(By University of Regina Sports Information)

REGINA, Sask. - The University of Regina's men's volleyball team battled all night long, but eventually fell to No. 8-ranked Alberta in a match that took the maximum five sets to settle on Saturday at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

For a five-set match, though, there was a surprising lack of late-set drama throughout the night. Alberta won the first set 25-19, but the Cougars hit .500 as a team and rolled to a 25-16 second-set victory.

Alberta replied with an identical 25-16 win in the third set, only to have the Cougars hold the Golden Bears to a zero hitting percentage and lead from start to finish in a 25-21 fourth-set win to push it to five.

The teams traded blows early in the final set, but it was Alberta that landed the knockout punch around the side switch. With rookie Jackson Kennedy serving, the Golden Bears reeled off five straight points that turned a 7-7 tie into a commanding 12-7 lead for the visitors. The Cougars were able to stave off Alberta's first two attempts at set point, but the Golden Bears made good on their third set point with yet another Taryq Sani kill.

Sani was the story for the second consecutive night, finishing with a match-high 23 kills for Alberta in the win. He also led all players with 13 digs and, amazingly, now leads all of Canada West in both kills per set (4.88) and digs per set (2.56) this year.

Arran Chambers added nine kills for Alberta (4-0) while hitting .500 in the win and also collecting a team-leading seven blocks. Jackson Kennedy and Alex McMullin both chipped in with eight kills, with Kennedy also adding 11 digs and five blocks for the Golden Bears. Max Elgert started at setter and played most of the match there for Alberta but for the second straight match, Luke Brisbane saw time there in key situations. Elgert finished with 40 assists, while Brisbane collected seven – six of which came after he came into the fifth set with Alberta facing an early 3-1 deficit.

Matthew Aubrey led the Cougars (0-6) with 13 kills and also added eight blocks and seven digs. Conal McAinsh again led all players with nine blocks for the second time in as many matches, while Brennan Goski chipped in offensively with 10 kills. Rookie setter Jake Fleming had 35 assists and tied libero Dryden Wall for the team lead with eight digs.

The Cougars will hit the road next weekend for matches on Friday and Saturday at Mount Royal, while Alberta will host Manitoba.