EDMONTON - The Alberta Pandas said goodbye to some major program contributors and took care of business in a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-18) straight-sets victory over the MacEwan Griffins in the final game of the regular season Saturday evening at the Saville Centre.
The top-ranked team in the nation was stellar defensively in this one, limiting the Griffins to a .077 mark on the attack and recorded nine total blocks. They were absolutely elite on offence in the first, and while they experienced momentary hiccups they were solid for the rest of the game. MacEwan saw a standout performance from Arden Butler, who finished with ten kills, but were largely unable to find the seams between a strong Alberta blockline.
The Pandas will play host to the winner of the No. 9 @ No. 8 series of the Play-in Round in two weeks. At the moment, it will be Winnipeg at Calgary, but pending tonight's results that could change. MacEwan will play next weekend in the Play-in Round, also pending results, but at the moment will be a series at UFV.
The first set was paced by Peyton Henderson and Abby Guezern for the Pandas, who took an early lead and cruised to a 25-14 victory. Alberta hit .478 as a team and was stellar at the line, recording four total blocks. Guezen, Henderson, and Allie Moore led the attack for the Pandas with three kills apiece, while the Griffins were paced by Arden Butler with three as well.
MacEwan improved in the second, akin to last night's contest, and they were in lockstep with Alberta for the majority of the set behind four set kills from Kara Frith. However, two attack errors and a couple kills from Henderson would quickly balloon the Pandas lead to an insurmountable margin.
The Griffins were strong to start the final set, running up an 8-5 lead early thanks to the phenomenal play of Arden Butler. However, a six-kill effort from Abby Guezen would tuck this one away as they would take the final set 25-18.
The graduating (or leaving) class for Alberta is decorated in all colours of medal and achievement, as all experienced the last two seasons of a Canada West championship and bronze, and a national silver and bronze. Justine Kolody, fifth-year, will leave the program ranked second all-time in career assists, and was a first-team All-Canadian last year. Abby Guezen, kill leader in the contest with 13, is not graduating but is pursuing opportunities professionally in volleyball. She will finish 11th in kills all-time, but impressively fourth in kills-per-set, showing the dominance she had over her time as a Panda. Taylor Wright and Peyton Henderson end their Pandas tenures as Canada West champions, and reached a national championship game two seasons ago.
