CALGARY – Madison Marshall finished with a game-high 14 kills to lead the Mount Royal University Cougars to a 3-1 win over the University of Calgary Dinos women's volleyball team Friday night from Kenyon Court.

Friday's game was the season opener for both teams.

Quinn Pelland led the MRU offence with 23 assists on the night, while Stella Rains guided the Dinos attack with 12 assists.

The two teams started things off even in the first set, tied at 7-7, before a 10-3 run for the Cougars created all the separation the defending national silver medallists would need in grabbing the 1-0 lead.

The Dinos block was rolling early in the second. Sophie Reed and Sheridan Coninx teamed up for back-to-back rejections to give Calgary the early edge. But, two straight aces from Nyadholi Thokbuom put MRU back on top late and the Cougars were able to hold on from there for the 2-0 advantage.

Calgary responded in the third. In a set full of runs by both squads, the Dinos would have the final surge to get right back into this one. Down 22-20, Carolyn Berze got things going with a kill before Coninx and Daisy Olsen finished things off with another block, capping a 5-0 run for the Scarlet & Gold to pull the match to 2-1.

MRU established a lead late in the fourth, but three straight kills by Coninx cut the gap to 23-19 and forced a timeout by the home team. But, the Cougars were able to find the floor for two more points to close out the set and the match.

The two teams will be right back at it Saturday for another men's-women's doubleheader, with the women's game scheduled for a 5 p.m. first serve, with the men's game following immediately after.

-UC-