Junelle Mah, Griffins Athletics

Edmonton, AB…..The MacEwan University Griffins women's volleyball team defeat the Mount Royal University Cougars 3-1 after a harrowing fourth set in the second day of their Canada West season-opener series in Edmonton, AB. The Griffins swept the Cougars 2-0 after last night's four-set decision.

GMU-MRU: 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 27-25 

In similar fashion to last night's match, the Cougars took the first set 25-20 after a close battle back and forth.

The second set started out with the Cougars taking charge until Griffins went on a four-point run that was triggered by a MacEwan University ace. Mount Royal fought back to tie at 15, at which point the Griffins began to pull ahead with a three to four-point buffer. MacEwan University would take the second set 25-22.

Another back-and-forth affair started the third set, the score equalized at 13 points. The Griffins again, pulled ahead with another four-point buffer to end the set 25-20 over the Cougars.

Fourth-set action was intensely physical, with a tie at five-points that gave MacEwan University a launch pad to pull away from the Cougars in three to five-point margins. Mount Royal battled back, to earn the tie at the 20, 21, and 22 point-marks. A suspense-ridden climb to 25 turned into a push for those extra two-points. The Cougars gave a good fight, but fell 27-25 to the Griffins to end the series.

Third-year setter Claire McLoughlin, Campbell River, BC was MacEwan University's 'Player of the Game' as she set the tone and pace for the Griffins. The Bachelor of Arts student had­ four kills, 40 assists, one ace, four digs, and five blocks. Third-year outside hitter Cassidy Kinsella, Leduc, AB was a strong force with 17 kills, one assist, one ace, 15 digs, and one block.

Cougars fifth-year setter Jenna Smith, Beaverlodge, AB had five kills, 43 assists, one ace, eight digs, and two blocks. First-year outside-hitter Carolina Alongi, Calgary, AB was Mount Royal's 'Player of the Game' with 12 kills, one assist, one ace, and 11 digs.

The Griffins take to the road next weekend for a series with the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack in Kamloops, BC, while the Cougars head home for their home-opener with the Regina Cougars in Calgary, AB.