Sweep Rattlers to start the season

A perfect sweep to start the 2010-11 volleyball season is just what the doctored ordered for the Cougars men’s and women’s volleyball teams, as the two squads combined to win all 12 sets over the weekend, both improving to 2-0 to start the season.

In Friday’s season opener, the Cougars traveled down to Medicine Hat to take on the Rattlers, whom they hadn’t faced since the 2008-09 season, as last year’s match between the two clubs was cancelled due to poor weather just prior to the winter semester break and never rescheduled.

It may be a good thing for the Rattlers to avoid playing Mount Royal, as the Cougars demolished the Rattlers in straight sets on Friday 25-16, 25-22, 25-20 for the women and 25-20, 25-17 and 25-16 for the men.

After a lengthy pre-season, the Cougars teams came out fired up, on a mission to start the new season off right, as the team mercifully pummeled the opposition.

Leading the charge for the Cougar women was all-star left-side Andrea Price, who already seemed in mid-season form, registering 14 kills and 13 digs to lead all players.

Teammates Diyon Van Nistelrooy and Julia Pasieka chipped in with five kills apiece.

On the men’s side, Jordan Lantz and Dan Durham were responsible for the majority of the offence, as the pair combined for 18 kills, while Mike Dingwall added in eight digs to set the tone on the defensive end.

The Rattlers on Saturday were hoping a new night, might bring a new result, but it was much of the same, as the Cougars teams continued to make quick work of the Rattlers, dispelling of the visitors in straight sets once again (25-19,25-12,25-20) for the women and (25-12, 25-17,25-22) for the men.

Andrea Price continued to star offensively, leading onslaught for the women registering 11 kills, 9 digs, and two service aces, while teammate Fallon Middlemiss added six kills, along with 10 digs and a solo block.

For the men, Dan Durham continued his hot weekend, and was nearly unstoppable, tallying 15 of the team’s 35 kills, earning Player of the Game honours for his stellar play.
Coach Shawn Sky was optimistic about the Cougars’ early success.

“It was a great weekend for us,” said Sky. “Anytime you win 3-0 both nights is a solid weekend. The play was strong, consistent and clean and I liked the adjustments the guys made Saturday night. I was happy with our consistency and our mental focus. I was a great start to the year.”

The Cougars will be on the road next weekend as the team prepares for a two game stand versus the Keyano Huskies on Friday and Saturday night, before returning home to MRU on Friday, November 19th for a home game versus Lethbridge College.

Congrats’ on a stellar opening weekend Cougars!