by Ken Wiebe
the Carillon

The University of Regina Cougars went in with high hopes but they had to look past the end result to evaluate their performance.

Regina finished the CIAU National Women's Volleyball Championship in Winnipeg last weekend with a disappointing 0-2 record but came home with an abundance of experience and hope for the future.

In the end, the Cougars learned a valuable lesson about getting to the top of the CIAU ladder.

They didn't have anything to show for it in the win column but they proved to both themselves and their opposition that they could play at an elite level.

"This was a huge step for the program," Lisa Reynolds said of the Cougars first trip to CIAU's since 1989-90. "I think it showed a lot of people what type of team we are and that a little adversity in life can be challenged and overcome."

Just showing they can compete was the first step but the Cougars are not content with the one opportunity.

"We'll be back," said Reynolds, who paced the team with 14 kills in the opening match with Alberta and added 18 against Western Ontario. "When you get to Nationals, you aren't allowed days off, you have to be at your best all the time."

Regina was at its best in their opening match with Alberta. The Cougars were feisty on defense early in the game and led the first set by as many as five points at one stage (13-8).

The Pandas demonstrated experience and resiliency to fight back and take advantage of several Cougar miscues to win the opening set 26-24. Regina rebounded in the second set and jumped out to 12-8 advantage on the strength of tough serving and good defense. Momentum swung back and forth as the game was tied at 18, 20 and 21 before the Pandas pulled away for a 25-21 victory. Alberta cruised to a 25-15 win in the third set to earn the sweep.

"We just multiplied our errors when we hit 20," said Cougars coach Miles Kydd.

"First we'd miss a serve, then we'd shank a ball and be on the ropes. It just comes down to executing. You have to give yourself a chance to win."

In the second match against the Western Ontario Mustangs, Regina came out strong again with a well-balanced attack to earn a 25-16 victory. The Cougars came out flat in the second set and after battling back fell 25-23. They never regained their composure and dropped the final two sets 25-21 and 25-21.

Regina also lost power hitter Leona Brickwell to a knee injury. Early reports indicate she has a strained LCL (lateral collateral ligament) but may also have cartilage damage.

"We're all disappointed that we lost but we all realized it just fuels the fire for next year," said Cougars setter Krista Rennick, who was named to the CIAU's All-Rookie team prior to the tournament. "We know what we have to do next year and it gives us a lot of incentive to come back here and prove to people and ourselves that we can do it.

"Inside we know we're not the underdog. We know we can go out there and play a good match against teams like Alberta and Manitoba. The difference is that we let up and are apprehensive when we get to 20. That's a valuable lesson we learned."

Another lesson the Cougars learned is the need to be more consistent.

"That has always seemed to be our nemesis," Reynolds noted. "Trying to be at our best all the time from game to game is crucial. We proved to ourselves and others that we deserved to be at nationals and that we can play with the best teams in the country. We just have to take the next step in beating them."