This Week in University of Regina Athletics

Cross Country (Men’s CIS Ranking: No. 4) – The Cougars are in final preparations for the CIS Championships this weekend, which will take place at the Fort Henry Hill course in Kingston, Ont. The men’s team has a chance to win the first Canada West championship in program history, as the Cougars enter the weekend as the fourth-ranked team in the country. The U of R will also be sending two women’s runners, as Melissa Petersen and Karissa LePage will compete as individuals. The women’s race will kick off at 1 p.m. local time on Saturday, while the men’s race will start at 1:45 p.m.

Women’s Basketball (CIS Ranking: No. 4) – Brittany Read led the Cougars to a two-game weekend sweep over the Lethbridge Pronghorns, giving the U of R an early 2-0 conference record. Read had 25 points and 12 rebounds during the team’s 76-67 win on Friday, then had 18 points and 14 rebounds on Saturday as the Cougars won 75-61. The Cougars will host their home openers this weekend, beginning Friday with a rematch of last year’s national championship final against Simon Fraser and continuing Saturday against Trinity Western.

Men’s Hockey – The Cougars (4-6-0) moved from seventh to fifth in the Canada West standings after sweeping the Lethbridge Pronghorns at home over the weekend, winning by scores of 2-0 and 5-2. After missing the first two months of the season to injury, fourth-year goalie Adam Ward sparkled in net for the Cougars, recording a 37-save shutout on Friday and making 16 more saves in the win on Saturday. This weekend, the Cougars will host Manitoba on Friday and Saturday night at the Communiskate Rink in Emerald Park.

Men’s Basketball – The Cougars (1-1) started off their 2009-10 conference schedule with a weekend split at Lethbridge, winning 81-77 on Friday and dropping a 70-54 decision on Saturday. Sterling Nostedt was the team’s top scorer for the weekend, scoring 25 points over the two games including a career-high and team-leading 16 in the win on Friday. The Cougars will play their home openers this weekend, as they’ll host Simon Fraser on Friday and Trinity Western on Saturday.

Women’s Hockey – The Cougars (1-4-1) return to action this weekend against the Manitoba Bisons, who currently sit in third place in the conference with a 4-2-0 record. The teams, who will be meeting for the first time during the conference schedule, will play on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 at the Communiskate Rink in Emerald Park.

Women’s Volleyball (CIS Ranking: No. 4) – The Cougars jumped up to No. 4 in the CIS rankings after recording road wins over Thompson Rivers on Friday and Saturday. The last time the Cougars were ranked higher in the top ten poll was back in October of 2005, when they held down the No. 3 position. Now 5-1 on the season, the Cougars will have this weekend off before playing their final games before the Christmas break on Nov. 20 and 21 against Alberta.

Men’s Volleyball – The Cougars (0-6) suffered two road losses to Thompson Rivers last weekend, losing in straight sets on both Friday and Saturday in Kamloops, B.C. Jamie Wilkins was solid on the outside for the Cougars, putting down 12 kills with just three errors for a team-leading .360 hitting percentage. The team will have a weekend off before returning to action on Nov. 20 and 21 against No. 3-ranked Alberta (4-2).

Rams Football – The Rams’ season ended on Saturday after being defeated 53-23 by the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West semifinals in Saskatoon. Marc Mueller set U of R playoff records in completions (32) and passing yards (470), but it wasn’t enough to lift the Rams into the Canada West final. Jordan Sisco also had a solid game for the Rams, scoring three touchdowns and catching eight passes for 161 yards.

Men’s Wrestling – The Cougars sent nine wrestlers to the 17th Annual Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open on Saturday, hosted by South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D. Kirk Ackerman, who advanced to the consolation quarterfinals at 141 lbs., was the team’s top finisher. The team will return to the Dakotas this weekend for a Thursday dual against Jamestown College and a Friday dual and Saturday tournament at Dakota Wesleyan.

Women’s Wrestling – Four members of the U of R’s women’s wrestling team competed at the Clan International in Surrey, B.C. on Friday. Lisa McKibben was the Cougars’ top finisher, placing sixth at 67 kilograms. The Cougars will be in action next at the Can/Am Meet, scheduled for Nov. 21 in Jamestown, N.D.