Pandas cruise past Griffins on Saturday

EDMONTON — The MacEwan Griffins felt the force of the Alberta Pandas big punch.

In a classic battle of youth versus experience, MacEwan’s inexperience showed as they dropped three straight sets (25-16, 25-7, 25-20), Saturday afternoon at David Atkinson gymnasium.

Mariah Bereziuk led MacEwan with seven kills and four digs and Amelia Anderson recoded 10 assists in the loss, while Kory White led Alberta with 15 kills, and Julia Zonneveld chipped in with 10 kills and 10 digs for Alberta.

MacEwan hung in there during the opening set, taking an early lead, but once Alberta’s veteran group of White, Zonneveld, Erin Corbett and Vanessa Jarman took control, the Pandas were able to break away.

Alberta controlled the service game, capitalizing on MacEwan’s mistakes in the service game.

MacEwan trailed 11-9 after a big kill from middle Dana Dunbar, but back-to-back aces from Corbett broke the set open and Alberta didn’t allow MacEwan any chance of a comeback.

MacEwan looked in complete disarray in the second set, allowing the Pandas to dominate in every facet of the game. Alberta went on a 6-0 run as well as a 7-0 run to close out the set.

But despite getting kicked around in the second set, MacEwan came back and battled hard in the third set.

The Pandas jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a Zonneveld ace, but MacEwan punched back as they clawed their way back into the set and they eventually tied it at 15-15, but one service error gave Alberta the small spark they need to once again take control, and close out the game on an 8-4 run.

Alberta is primed for another national championship run, and this was a monumental test to open the Griffins season — but Briggs wants to take this experience and learn from it moving forward as the season progresses.