BOX SCORE EDMONTON - In a game they needed to win, the University of Alberta Pandas continued their push for the playoffs by stopping their three-game losing streak, doing it quickly by taking a straight-sets win (25-15, 25-20, 25-10) over the University of Calgary Dinos, Friday night at Saville Community Sports Centre.
Sophomore outside hitters Meg Casault and Kacey Otto led the offensive charge with 13 and 10 respective kills, the duo also combining for five aces. Rookie setter Mariah Walsh had a game-high 32 assists.
First-year right side
Janna Ogle had a team-high eight kills for the Dinos, fourth-year setter
Jordhynn Guy adding 19 assists.
The Pandas improve to 7-8 in the standings, coming into the weekend in the seventh and final playoff spot. Calgary extends their losing streak to nine games, now 4-11 on the season.
The Dinos held their own early in the opening set, going point-for-point with the home team until fourth-year middle Dione Lang put up a couple kills to fuel a 9-3 run for the Pandas. Calgary tried to respond but a
Laura McManes error from the service line swayed the momentum back to Alberta's favour, a 6-1 run giving Alberta a 1-0 set lead.
Momentum swings for both teams filled the second set as Casault and sophomore outside hitter Karly Janssen put up a half-dozen kills apiece, including Edmonton native Janssen catching the Dinos' back line to make it 24-18 shortly before a Calgary net violation put the Pandas up by two sets.
Alberta's defence dominated the final set, earning a total of eight blocks with two solos and 12 block assists, spearheaded by Lang who assisted on four blocks and grabbed one on her own as part of a 12-2 run in the middle of the third set that all but ended the Dinos' hopes of a comeback. Casault, who impressively finished the night with a 42% attack percentage and zero errors on 31 attempts, finished the match by tucking her final kill into the back left corner.
The provincial rivals will meet again for a rematch on Saturday night, game time at Saville Community Sports Centre going at 6:30 p.m. MT.
