Kayla Kievits, Mount Royal University Communications

CALGARY – Its go time for women's volleyball. The Mount Royal Cougars take on the Winnipeg Wesmen on home court for the first game of the season. As the first set begins the Cougars take an early lead. With kills from Alex Donaghy, Chantel Park and Cassidy Kitchen, the Winnipeg Wesmen called a timeout at 12-7 to regroup. Unfortunately for the Wesmen, the timeout wasn't enough to stop Donaghy who continued to get kill after kill for a total of 14 in the first set. Wesmen Kalena Shulz put up the most counter attacks with 5 kills in the set. The Cougars won on a kill from Donaghy from the right side with a score of 25-12.

Moving into the second set, both teams struggled to keep their serves on the court. Cougars took the lead 8-2. Wesmen Maria Colvin got a kill from the middle with a step around, which was followed by a kill from the outside from #8 Ashleigh Laube. The Cougars call a time out as the Wesmen regain ground at a score of 12-10 for Mount Royal. Kitchen puts up two kills from the outside taking the score to 16-11 at the technical timeout. Wesmen Schulz tips the ball over the block to regain the serve. Both teams showed a strong presence at the net sending back over passes and blocking outside hitters. Wesmen Taylor Boughton gets a kill from middle making the score 23-18. Unfortunately, the Wesmen were only able to score one more point before the Cougars took the set at 25-19.

Entering the third set, the pressure was on for the Wesmen as the Cougars were up two sets. Once again Cougar Donaghy came out swinging getting the first two kills of the game. This set was much closer as the teams went back and forth point for point. At the technical timeout, the Cougars lead 16-12. Wesmen Schulz puts a rocket down the line from the outside getting a kill. Wesmen take a timeout when the Cougars hit 20 points. Following the timeout Wesmen Schulz goes on a serving streak catching the Cougars with a score of 23-21 for Mount Royal. Despite the serving streak Cougars star attacker of the night Donaghy ends the game with a kill from the outside for a final score of 25-22. The Cougars take the match in three straight sets.

The teams face off again tomorrow afternoon in the Mount Royal gym at 5:30 p.m. where the Cougars are hoping for similar results. Both teams showed incredible effort and dedication on the court. Tomorrow's match up is sure to be a good one.