CALGARY – Using an 11-1 run in the fifth set to beat the host Calgary Dinos, the Alberta Pandas earned themselves a home playoff date in a week's time, against none-other than the Dinos themselves.
BOX SCORE
The Pandas dominated the last two sets, stretching late-set leads in the fourth to win 25-17 before blasting the Dinos 15-6 in the fifth set after Calgary led 5-4 at an early juncture. Their strong play in the last set was due in large part to two momentous blocks from Jenice Warkentin, as well four kills from Tiffany Proudfoot.
Dinos head coach Jesse Knight noted their troubles handling the Alberta attack, especially in the final game.
“We didn't pass the ball at all in the fifth, and Alberta played really well,” said Knight, whose team will face the Pandas next week in the Canada West quarterfinals. “They're an excellent serving team and it gave us a lot of trouble.”
With the loss, Calgary drops to sixth in the conference behind Manitoba due to number of sets won. The Dinos will subsequently pack their bags for an immediate rematch with the third place Pandas in Edmonton, a weekend Knight hopes Calgary will use to rebound from Saturday's tough loss.
“Alberta executed everything they wanted to execute, and we didn't,” Knight explained. “We need to be better if we want to beat them.”
Calgary won both of their first two sets in large part to Melanie Miazga, who got them out of both with clutch kills in the waning moments of each game. Calgary rallied back from a 19-14 disadvantage in the third set to win 27-25, with the Pandas' Jaki Ellis tipping it wide on match-point.
In the Pandas' first two set wins, they won convincingly with identical 25-17 finals. Alberta battered Calgary in the first set, causing the Dinos fits in their return game, while they used three service aces in the fourth set to help gain separation where they once held a 22-15 lead.
Alberta was fairly consistent all evening in terms of attack percentage, finishing with a respectable 28%, while Calgary faltered significantly in the late going after a remarkable 41% in the second set.
The Dinos were led by Lindsay Russell, who had 16 kills, while Sarah Moncks and Lindsey Doland each had double digit kills (12 each) and digs (17 and 15 respectively)
Alberta was led by Proudfoot, who nailed a match-high 16 kills, while Warkentin contributed 14 kills and seven blocks. Krista Zubick was a factor as well, going for 14 kills and 11 digs.
Calgary and Alberta will re-engage next weekend for the best-of-three Canada West quarterfinal series, with the timing and schedule to be announced.
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