Women's Volleyball 2/7/2015 12:00:00 AM

PANDAS DOWN COUGARS IN THREE STRAIGHT

Box Score
Courtesy of: Alberta Sports Information

EDMONTON - It wasn't easy, but the No.1 University of Alberta Pandas volleyball team pulled out a straight-sets win over the Mount Royal Cougars (25-16, 25-18, 27-25), Friday night at the Saville Community Sport Centre.Â

The win moves Alberta to 18-5 and once again at the front of the three-way tie atop the Canada West standings over UBC Okanagan and Trinity Western. If the Pandas defeat the Cougars again Saturday, they will clinch first in the conference as well as hosting duties and a "bye" into the Canada West Final Four.Â

The Cougars were led statistically by senior outside hitter Fallon Middlemiss, who had a team-high nine kills, while third-year outside hitter Robyn Potolicki was all over the floor with a team-high 14 digs and fourth-year setter Jenna Smith had 21 assists.Â

The Pandas were led offensively by third-year middle Jess Stroud, who had a team-high 11 kills, while fourth-year libero Jessie Niles, Alberta`s all time dig leader in conference play, added 16 tonight. Second-year setter Mariah Walsh recorded 36 assists for the Pandas.Â

Alberta got off to a quick start in the first set up 6-3 behind the serves of Josephine Doerfler and Dione Lang. Jess Stroud powered a kill down the line to make it 10-6 Pandas. Mount Royal battled back to even at 10-10.Â

Stroud scored two consecutive points as the Pandas jumped ahead 16-12, the Pandas continuing their run to 18-12 off of a kill from Meg Casault. Casault had a solo block and another kill to make it 22-13 Pandas.Â
Doerfler put a ball down from the right side for set point at 24-14 and Kacey Otto finished the set with a kill. Casault led the Pandas with five kills in the set, while Robyn Potolicki had four for the Cougars.Â

Dione Lang finished a lengthy rally early in the second set with a kill off the block for a 4-4 tie, then Stroud powered one cross-court for a 5-4 Alberta lead. The Cougars took a 7-6 lead off a Potolicki block.Â
Three consecutive kills from Taylor Pelland allowed Mount Royal to stretch their lead to 11-7, but Doerfler pulled Alberta back to 10-12 behind two kills and then put a service ace in for a 12-13 score.Â

The Pandas rallied back with some strong defensive play and a Stroud hit off the block made it 17-16 for Alberta.Â

The Pandas made it 23-18 off a Mount Royal double touch and continued their late set rally with a net violation from the Cougars. Alberta finished the set 25-18 from a missed pass by Mount Royal. Stroud had six kills for Alberta in the set.Â

Mount Royal started the third set on a roll, jumping up 9-3 behind the serve of Jenna Smith on a 6-0 run. Lang started the Alberta comeback with a hit off the block to creep back to 5-9.Â

Stroud had a big swing to move the Pandas back to 10-12 and, after a Doerfler hit off the block, Walsh served up an ace to tie the set at 12-12. Doerfler added a solo block and the Pandas pulled ahead 14-12.Â
Mount Royal worked their way back into things behind the serve of Mikayla Fritzke, the Cougars pulling ahead 16-15. They kept the Pandas on the run, jumping ahead 18-15 before a Casault hit with contact stopped the run at 18-16.Â

Alberta tied the set at 19-19 off a Cougars double touch and then Lang had a solo block, followed by an Otto kill, to make it 21-19 Alberta. Middlemiss had a solo block and then Zalaski and Potolicki combined for another to tie the set up at 21-21. Middlemiss put the Cougars back ahead at 23-22 with a tip at the net but Dione Lang slammed it inside the block to tie it at 23-23.Â

A long serve from Otto had the Cougars at set point but a solo block from Casault preceding a left side kill gave the Pandas a go-ahead point at 25-24. Mount Royal tied it but another Casault hit gave the Pandas set point and a wide hit from Middlemiss finished the match 27-25 Pandas.Â

The Pandas and Cougars will return to action on Saturday night at the SCSC at 5 p.m. MT as both teams wrap up their regular season schedules on Alberta`s Senior Night.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Keegan Iverson: Forward; 6' 2"; First Year

#6 Allan MacPherson: Defence; 5' 11"; Third Year

#27 Connor Rankin: Forward; 6' 0"; Fifth Year

#2 Jamal Watson: Forward; 6' 0"; Fourth Year

Players Mentioned

#14 Keegan Iverson
: 6' 2"; First Year
: Forward

#6 Allan MacPherson
: 5' 11"; Third Year
: Defence

#27 Connor Rankin
: 6' 0"; Fifth Year
: Forward

#2 Jamal Watson
: 6' 0"; Fourth Year
: Forward