Tanner Michalenko, Saskatchewan Sports Information Student Assistant
SASKATOON – The University of Regina Cougars avoided a five set collapse against provincial rival the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday night on Ron and Jane Centre Court at the PAC with a 3-2 (25-19, 25-22, 15-25, 19-25, 15-10).
Winning the first two sets but dropping the next two, the Cougars were in trouble in the fifth when setter Mackenzie Pek delivered a service ace to narrow the Regina lead to two at 11-9. The Cougars called a timeout and went on 4-1 run sparked by a Haley Wagar kill, and two Brooklyn Reynolds blocks. Reynolds sealed the 15-10 win with a kill.
With the win, Regina improves to 6-8. Saskatchewan falls to 7-7. It was the Cougars' first win in Saskatoon since the 2014-15 season. The Huskies won Friday night 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 16-25, 15-10).
Emily Koshinsky led the Huskies once again recording a match high 23 kills. She added 10 digs and two aces. Taylor Annala added another nine kills and 10 digs in the match.
For Regina, fourth-year Ashlee Sandiford recorded a team-high 20 kills and seven digs. Wagar contributed another 13 kills and five digs.
In the first, a 6-1 run midway through the set lead the Cougars to a 25-19 win. Saskatchewan would crawl back in the second after giving up an opening 8-3 lead to Regina. The 8-2 Huskie run earned them their only lead throughout the first two sets at 19-18. The lead was short-lived, as Sandiford supplied the final two kills int he 25-22 second set win.
Tied 10-10 in the third, Koshinsky started rolling. The Kinesiology student recorded a remarkable five kills during a 6-1 Huskie run, as they would ride to a 25-15 win in the set. Tied at 10 once again in the fourth, another Koshinsky kill sparked a 6-1 run. The run gave them the breathing room needed, winning 25-19.
Saskatchewan stays home next weekend to battle the MacEwan University Griffins. Regina returns home to host the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack.