BOX SCORE

EDMONTON - Despite falling behind early, the No. 4 Alberta Pandas claimed a 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23) to sweep the Calgary Dinos Saturday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton.

Freshman outside hitter Alena Omelchenko netted a game-high 22 kills, but fourth-year setter Jaki Ellis had the best all-around game, earning a spectacular 60% attack rating to go with 10 kills and 33 assists. Senior outside hitter Whitney Matheson broke the double-digit barrier with 11 kills.

Fourth-year left side Lindsey Doland tallied 16 kills in the loss while senior setter Sarah Lacny put up 30 assists.

"Alberta is always a battle, and you have to be prepared for a long night whenever you play them," said first-year Dinos head coach Natalie Schwartz. "Tonight we battled and had to fight for every point we got, because they didn't give us anything. I'm happy to say that despite the outcome, we took some big steps forward this weekend in terms of individual performances, team execution, and character. We're moving in the right direction at the right time."

Doland and the Dinos had all the early momentum in Saturday's match, the Calgary native notching four kills while fourth-year middle Ali Sandholm cleared the tape with three aces, and added two kills of her own, to put the visitors up 16-6.

The Pandas twice reduced the deficit to as little as two, but untimely service errors led the Dinos to a 1-0 set lead.

The tables turned in the second set, however, with Calgary committing six errors from the service line and Omelchenko getting half the points in an 8-1 run to sway the momentum, and the scoreboard, in favour of Alberta, leading to a 1-1 tie after two.

Ellis then took center stage in the third set, knocking back four kills in a 14-3 Pandas run and adding two more in a 6-0 run to close out the set, the Mississauga, ON native earning a perfect, 100% attack rating to go along with six assists, as Alberta claimed the 2-1 set lead.

Returning to setting duties in the final set, Ellis put up 12 assists that included all of Omelchenko's eight kills as well as four of Matheson's seven.

The Dinos gamely kept up with the trio, going point for point and tying the score at 23, but a Colleen Bourque service error and a duo of powerful Omelchenko kills kept the teams from going the distance.

The 11-5 Pandas will stay home next weekend to host the 4-12 Regina Cougars while 8-8 Calgary, who is still fighting for a post-season berth, will host the 12-4 Trinity Western Spartans.

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