Calgary, AB – The Alberta Pandas defeated the Mount Royal Cougars 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-17) on Friday night on Kenyon Court. Meg Casault had a team-high 17 points, in the Pandas victory. Alex Donaghy led Mount Royal with 6.5 points.

Errors hindered the Cougars in the early going. Sloppy passing and attack errors had the Pandas out to an early 7-2 lead. Mount Royal managed to tie the game at 10 through a couple of solid kills by second year hitter, Taylor Pelland.

Alberta climbed back, hammering the lines, grabbing a 24-21 lead. The Cougars made another superb block at the net to get within two. After a long rally, the ball got to Robyn Potolicki who put away a monster kill, closing the gap to one. Nicole Smith, who had been serving extremely well, just clipped the net, giving the Pandas the 25-23 set victory.

The Pandas got off to another hot start, beginning the set with a 9-4 run before the Cougars were forced to take a timeout. The Pandas scored four straight coming out of the break, forcing Sandra Lamb to call her second consecutive timeout.

The Cougars looked phased after the timeout and Alberta pounced on them. The Pandas took the set handily, 25-14 and opened up a 2-0 lead in the match.     

Mount Royal set the pace early in the third set, getting out a 4-3 lead. Alberta fought back and ran out to another big lead. The Pandas were too much for the Cougars, as they led by double digits at points throughout the set. The Pandas sealed the victory when Chantel Park hit the final ball long, giving the Pandas the 25-17 set victory.

The Cougars drop their regular season record to 2-3. The Pandas improve to 3-0 in Canada West play.

The two squads will renew their rivalry again tomorrow evening at 7pm on Kenyon Court.