This past weekend saw the Cougars women’s hockey team, and men's and women’s volleyball teams playing at home. The hockey team hosted Minot State University Friday and Saturday at the Sportsplex, while the volleyball teams were hosting Université de Saint-Boniface at the Assiniboine Community College gymnasium.

Women’s volleyball started the weekend action off at 6 p.m. by winning their first set against Les Rouges 25-20. Les Rouges took the second set 25-21, and the Cougars continued with the back and forth by winning the third set 25-21, followed up by winning the fourth set 25-17 to win the game 3-1. Brittany Bachmier dug up 14 balls while Jordyn Paddock and Skyla Vanmackelbergh each dug up 10.

In the men’s match Les Rouges opened the game by winning the first set 25-20. The Cougars closed the gap in the second, but fell 22-25. Les Rouges won the third set 25-18 to win the game. Braden Campbell had 11 kills and 1 block, while Steven Fawcett contributed 4 stuff blocks.

The puck dropped at 7:30 p.m. at the Sportsplex Friday night for the start of the hockey action. The Cougars were down by 1 at the end of the first period. Carlin Hamilton tied it up for the Cougars in the second, with help from Kenzie Heide and Alyssa Alderson. Minot State University scored three times in the third to win the game 4-1.

Saturday’s Cougars action began with women’s hockey at 10:15 a.m. at the Sportsplex. Blair Bodie opened the scoring for the Cougars with the first goal of the game at 14:60. Rachel Charles, Karli Frederick, and Sierra Parenteau all scored for the Cougars in the second, while Minot State University scored once, giving the Cougars a 4-1 lead at the end of the second period. Minot State University scored in the third, as did Sierra Parenteau for the Cougars, giving the Cougars a 5-2 win over the third ranked Minot State University.

Women’s volleyball started at 12 noon with a re-match between the Cougars and the Université de Saint-Boniface Les Rouges. Saturday’s results were the opposite of Friday evening, with Les Rouges winning 3-1 (25-14, 25-19, 24-26, and 25-19). Brittany Bachmier had 24 digs while captain Erica Scott had 14 digs and 10 kills.

The men’s game started with the Cougars winning the first set 25-23 and the second set 25-18. They struggled to maintain the momentum and fell 15-25 in the third set. It was a back and forth battle in the fourth set with Les Rouges winning it 27-25. Les Rouges rolled on to win the fifth set 15-9 to win the game 3-2. Captain Jordan Todd had 13 kills and 9 blocks, Leo MacArthur had 14 kills and 4 blocks, and Braden Campbell had 13 kills.

Both the American Collegiate Hockey Association and the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference take a break in regular league games until the New Year. The women’s hockey team heads to Tempe, Arizona January 12-14 to play Arizona State University. Regular league games for the volleyball teams begin January 19 when the Cougars host Providence University College at the Assiniboine Community College gymnasium. The men’s game starts at 6 p.m. with the woman's following at 7:30 p.m.


photo courtesy Assiniboine Community College Athletics