EDMONTON - The No.2 ranked University of Alberta Golden Bears volleyball team defeated the University of Regina Cougars for the second-straight night at the Saville Community Sports Centre Saturday, winning in straight sets (27-25, 25-20, 25-14). The weekend sweep puts the Bears at 18-2 on the year as they continue to hold their spot atop the Canada West standings.
Alberta was led offensively by third-year left side Ryan Nickifor with 16 kills, third-year setter Brett Walsh had a team-high seven digs and 36 assists.
Regina was led by fourth-year outside hitter Andre Borgeaud with 10 kills, while first-year setter Michael Corrigan recorded 22 assists. Fourth-year libero Jacques Borgeaud and fourth-year outside hitter Matthew Lueck had six digs each.
In the opening set, Regina started off much better than Friday night, going on a 3-0 run early. Alberta responded with a huge block from Taylor Arnett that helped them draw level at 3-3.
Alex McMullin skyed in for a back row tip to tie the set at 9-9, but Regina continued to keep things close as a Carter Howe kill made it 13-11 Cougars. Regina stayed in the lead up to 18-16 but the Bears quickly evened it at 18-18 off a Regina error.
Regina led 22-20 off another kill from Howe but a service ace from McMullin tied it back at 22-22.
Borgeaud gave the Cougars the lead again with a kill from power, but Ryley Barnes put it off the Regina block to even the score and then had a huge solo block to make it set point for the Bears.
The serve went long, though, and Regina tied it at 24, regaining the lead for a set point of their own off a long hit from McMullin.
Barnes followed with a right-side kill and the Bears got their second set point as Nickifor put it down off the Regina block, finishing the set off a line-kill. Howe led Regina with four kills and Nickifor led Alberta with five.
The second set began very evenly as well, with the two teams trading service before Arnett put the Bears ahead 7-6 with a middle kill, Alberta continuing to build a lead from there, moving up 10-7.
Regina then made it 10-11 but McMullin put down a monster kill to grow the Bears lead. Regina would tie it at 13-13 and then take the lead off a Matthew Lueck kill at 14-13.
Alberta went on a 5-0 run to regain the lead, capitalizing on Regina errors to lead 18-14. Barnes then recorded a service ace to keep Alberta ahead 20-16.
Yet Cougars again refused to go away, making it 19-22 before another massive kill from Barnes made it 23-19. Nickifor then gave the Bears set point at 24-19 with a kill of his own and Arnett combined with McMullin to finish the set on a block. Nickifor had five more kills to lead Alberta while Andre Borgeaud had five to lead Regina.
Taylor Arnett continued the Bears highlight reel of thunderous kills to start the third set and Nickifor then put it off the block to make it 4-3 Bears.
Nickifor and Barnes placed two consecutive kills and Alberta led 8-5. Regina would rally to 8-9 but kills from McMullin and two from Nickifor and a solo block from John Goranson highlighted a 7-0 run that put the Bears in control ahead 17-8.
A service ace for Goranson made it 19-10 Alberta, an Arnett block putting the Bears two points away at 23-11. A Barnes placement from the outside made it match point and Alberta would finish the set and the match off a Nickifor swing from the left side that was touched before heading out of bounds.
Next weekend, the Golden Bears will head out on the road as they visit the Brandon Bobcats Friday night before they return home for their last regular season matches February 6th and 7th against the Mount Royal Cougars at the Saville Community Sports Centre. Regina, meanwhile, will return to their home floor to host the Macewan Griffins before finishing the season at UBC.