Cougars have confidence
Feb. 26, 2010 - Regina Leader-Post
By Ian Hamilton
The University of Regina Cougars are right on schedule.
With one win this weekend at the Canada West Final Four in Winnipeg, the Cougars will qualify for the CIS women's volleyball tournament for the first time in precisely 10 years -- and that appearance was precisely 10 years after the school's first trip to nationals.
This also marks the first time Regina has been to the Final Four since that format was adopted in 2003.
"After we beat Brandon (in a playoff series last weekend), we took some time to reflect on what we've accomplished," Cougars head coach Melanie Sanford said before the squad headed for Winnipeg. "That's important.
"In the second half (of the regular season), we've had a real sense of going up the ladder to get to this level. You have to take a few minutes to reflect. The team has to know it has done a great job. Me, I moved on to the next thing. For the team, it was important."
The "next thing" is the Final Four, which is to begin today. The Cougars are joined in the event by the UBC Thunderbirds, Manitoba Bisons and Trinity Western Spartans.
The top three finishers will move on to the CIS championship, March 4-6 in Edmonton. The Alberta Pandas already have a berth as the host team.
However, the Cougars' road to Edmonton features a huge obstacle right off the bat. Regina opens the Final Four against UBC, which went 20-0 in the regular season and is No. 1 in the CIS.
"We definitely give them a lot of respect for that (record)," said Cougars setter Tiffany Herman. "We know they're an amazing team, but we don't underestimate ourselves, either."
"Obviously (UBC) is a team that hasn't lost all year," added Sanford. "But when they were here before, we went five (sets) with them the first night and four the second. I wouldn't describe this as daunting. I think the team is looking forward to the challenge."
The Thunderbirds beat the Cougars 17-25, 25-13, 18-25, 25-20, 15-12 on Jan. 8 at the U of R's Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport, then completed the sweep the next night with a 25-19, 14-25, 25-18, 28-26 victory.
"I don't think we're scared of anyone," Sanford said. "I would admit it if I sensed some kind of fear, but I don't think there is any. We know we have to follow the game plan and play well."
The winner of today's match will meet the winner of the Trinity Western-Manitoba semifinal in Saturday's gold-medal match. The semifinal losers will meet Saturday in the bronze-medal game, with the winner of that contest joining the finalists in Edmonton.
Manitoba enters the Final Four ranked third in the country, with Trinity Western fourth. Regina is No. 5.
"We're very confident against those teams," Herman said. "We split with both of them, so we know we can handle the pressure."
The Cougars split a regular-season series with the Spartans in Langley, B.C., winning 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 on Jan. 15 and losing 25-11, 26-24, 25-20 on Jan. 16. Manitoba beat the Cougars 25-22, 25-14, 25-18 on Oct. 23, but Regina prevailed 25-17, 25-20, 26-24 the following night.
This time, all it takes is one win and Regina is off to nationals.
"For me, there's definitely a bit of nerves," Herman said. "But that just helps me play better."
EXTRAS: Cougars fifth-year middle Beth Clark was named a Canada West first-team all-star Thursday -- the first time a U of R volleyball player has been so honoured. The 22-year-old product of Sheldon-Williams Collegiate finished second in Canada West in hitting percentage (.319) and kills (250) and was third in the conference with 78 blocks. Clark was named to the CIS all-rookie team in 2006 and to the conference second-team all-star squad in '08.