Road Preview: VB teams visit MRU, while WHKY races Huskies in Saskatoon

Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Buoyed by a sweep over Regina last weekend for their first two wins of the season, the Griffins women’s volleyball team is trending upwards as they head into a tough series at the Mount Royal Cougars this weekend in Calgary.

After improving to 2-12 following the wins, they are right in the mix for the post-season, two games back of UBC Okanagan (4-10) for the 10^th and final playoff spot in Canada West.

Regina (4-12), Calgary (4-12) and Brandon (2-12) are also all in the fierce battle with anywhere between four and six games remaining in the regular season.

MacEwan visits MRU (9-5), who are in sixth in the conference, before remaining matches at Manitoba (12-4) and vs. Calgary at home.

So, although their playoff lives are on the line, they’ll be going into MRU with the process of how they win at the forefront.

“It’s very much let’s go in and go 1-0 on Friday and we break it down from there,” said head coach Chris Wandler. “We break it down set by set and rally by rally, with matchups and a good serve and pass game. We’re very process oriented.”

MacEwan’s men’s volleyball team – coming off a bye – will also visit Mount Royal this weekend, while women’s hockey, fresh off a 2-0 win over Manitoba in their last outing, is off to meet Saskatchewan for a pair of games.

Find the series previews below:

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

On Tap

Friday: at Mount Royal, 8 p.m., Canada West TV

Saturday: at Mount Royal, 5 p.m., Canada West TV

Last meeting

Dec. 2, 2023: MacEwan 3 at Mount Royal 1

Last game 

Jan. 25: Regina 2 at MacEwan 3

Jan. 18: Mount Royal 3 at Regina 0

2024-25 records

MacEwan (2-12): T13th

Mount Royal (9-5): 6th

Chris Wandler’s coach’s quote:

“We got a little reward for the hard work (last weekend). Now, it’s about putting a consistent effort in this week with practice and preparation to see if we can’t use those same mental tactics – because I think it is definitely a mental game – and see if we can’t string and stack some good habits together against Mount Royal.”

Players to watch

MacEwan: Anika Buys – The rookie middle blocker enters the weekend leading the Griffins with 34 blocks in 2024-25 (tied for 22^nd in the conference) and needs just two blocks to set a new program record for the most by a Griffins rookie in a Canada West season. Mckenna Stevenson had 35 in 2015-16 to set a standard that’s stood up for nine years.

Mount Royal: Lexi Herrod – The fourth-year setter is currently fourth in Canada West in assists/set (9.15) and is the quarterback behind an improved offensive attack that has the Cougars aiming for a direct spot in the quarter-finals (the top six teams avoid the Play-In round).

Spencer Loucks will be playing in his hometown of Calgary this weekend (James Maclennan photo).

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

On Tap

Friday: at Mount Royal, 6 p.m., Canada West TV

Saturday: at Mount Royal, 7 p.m., Canada West TV

Last meeting

Dec. 2, 2023: MacEwan 1 at Mount Royal 3

Last game 

Jan. 18: MacEwan 0 at Saskatchewan 3

Jan. 25: Mount Royal 2 at UBC Okanagan 3

2024-25 records

MacEwan (0-14): 13th

Mount Royal (4-10): T11th

Brad Poplawski’s coach’s quote:

“We’ve just got to find a level and maintain some consistency this weekend. They have some really good weapons and some really young, athletic players, so we have to do a good job limiting their options. Just for us, we have to find a level that we’ve reached at times this year, but it’s just our ability to sustain that. I want to see some consistency from us and just really establish a good side out rhythm and try to earn points with our block D.”

Players to watch

MacEwan: Spencer Loucks – The 6-foot-7 middle blocker gets to play back in his hometown this weekend in front of friends and family, so the motivation is certainly real. Coming off a series at Saskatchewan where he recorded eight blocks in seven sets Jan. 17-18, his presence at the net will be essential for the Griffins to find success.

Mount Royal: Ryan John – The 6-foot-6 second-year outside hitter is currently leading MRU in kills/set (2.41) and has the chops to become an impact player at the Canada West level after being a member of Team Canada at the U21 level.

Notable

The Griffins played Mount Royal in preseason at the Dino Cup tournament in Calgary on Sept. 26 and almost beat them, narrowly losing 3-2 (25-19, 24-26, 25-22, 20-25, 15-13) … MacEwan has added a new player to the roster as Sherwood Park outside hitter Brendon Lord joins the squad after transferring from Thompson Rivers University.

Joie Simon has scored four goals in her past four games, including against Mount Royal earlier this month (Derek Harback photo).

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

On Tap

Friday: at Saskatchewan, 6 p.m. MT, Canada West TV

Saturday: at Saskatchewan, 4 p.m. MT, Canada West TV

Last meeting

Nov. 30, 2024: Saskatchewan 3 at MacEwan 0

Last game 

Jan. 25: Manitoba 0 at MacEwan 2

Jan. 25: Saskatchewan 0 at Alberta 3

2024-25 records

MacEwan (3-16-3): 5^th East Division

Saskatchewan (4-13-5): 4^th East Division

Chris Leeming’s coach’s quote:

“I think the biggest thing that stood out was how much urgency we played with and then how physical and committed we were to the process,” he said of the 2-0 win over Manitoba last Saturday. “I said after the game we saw as much buy-in and commitment to what we needed to do in those two games. That was our most complete weekend that we’ve had, so we want to build off that.

“We want to continue to take what we’ve done well this year and find ways to continue to experience growth in that. Try to find people opportunities in roles they might fit with next year’s roster.”

Players to watch

MacEwan: Joie Simon – With three goals in her last two games (and four in her last four), Simon is one of the hottest players in the conference. She broke two records in the Griffins’ last game – becoming the new career short-handed goals leader across all program eras and being the first Griffin to score twice in a Canada West game.

Saskatchewan: Bronwyn Boucher – The Huskies’ leading goal scorer with six in 22 games is also tied for the team points lead with nine. She scored the winning goal for the Huskies in their Nov. 30 victory over MacEwan at the Downtown Community Arena.

Notable

While the Griffins have been officially eliminated from the playoffs, the Huskies are still alive, albeit barely. They trail Regina by eight points for the final playoff spot in the East Division with six games remaining for both teams … MacEwan will not only have a chance to play spoiler this weekend, they can actually pull even with Saskatchewan in the standings and possibly not finish in last in Canada West, which would be a big boost heading into the off-season.