Dymanic offence propels Pandas to Game 1 win

LANGLEY, BC– The No. 6 Trinity Western Spartans (19-5) dropped a closely contested 3-1 match with the No. 7 Alberta Pandas (18-6) in the game one of the best of three quarter final series Thursday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B,C. The Pandas victory puts Alberta one win away from advancing to the Canada West semifinals next weekend.
 
Third year middle Kaylee Plouffe (Sherwood Park, Alta.) with 14 kills, two blocks, and two aces, second-year Maryn Boldon (Okotoks, Alta.) with 14 kills, six digs, and two aces, and fourth-year Jayda Harder with six kills, at .600, and three blocks led the Spartans. Lauryn Tremblay with 15 kills, four aces, nine digs, and one block, Laila Johnston with 13 kills, four blocks, and 12 digs, and Abby Guezen with 12 kills, and four digs led the Pandas.
 
TWU third-year libero Mikayla McBain (Burlington, Ont.) finished with 16 digs, while Alberta’s Kalysta Knappett finished with 22 digs for the Pandas.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans and Pandas were evenly matched through the entirety of the opening set. TWU led 9-8 and 16-15 early. The two teams remained tied at 23-23. TWU had two set points at 24-23 and 25-24, but Alberta held the Spartans off and took the final three points to take the opening set 27-25. TWU hit at .278 (16-6-36), while Alberta hit at .394 (16-3-33) in the opening game of the night.
 
Trinity Western started the second set strong and took and early 11-5 lead. But the Pandas served their way back into the set and cut the lead to two, 11-9, with four straight points. TWU led 16-15 at the midway points, with the two team again tied at 23-23. Alberta got back-to-back kills to take the second set 25-23 and a 2-0 lead in total sets. TWU hit at .353 (14-2-34), while Alberta hit at .306 (15-4-36).
 
The Spartans found their game in the third set and took a solid 16-10 lead to start the set. Alberta cut the lead to four points, 23-19, but no closer as TWU took the third set 25-21 and force a fourth set. TWU hit at .200 (12-4-40), while Alberta hit at .095 (11-7-42).
 
The start of the fourth set the two teams were tied at 5-5, but a 5-0 run by the Pandas put Alberta in control with a 10-5 lead. The Spartans stayed with the Pandas, but still trailed by five, 15-10 midway through the set. Alberta put the game away with seven straight points to take a commanding 23-10 lead before closing out the set and the match 25-13. The Spartans struggled in the final set hitting at .053 (10-8-38), while the Pandas hit at .333 (12-2-30).
  
NOTABLE

• The Spartans finished the night hitting at .216 (52-20-148), while the Pandas finished at .270 (54-16-141).
• Alberta had a 7-5 edge in team blocks, and a 16-7 edge in service aces.
• The Spartans finished with 67 digs, to the Pandas 64.
• Last week the Spartans split with the Calgary Dinos at the Jack Simpson Gym in Calgary, Alta. TWU lost 3-2 on Friday night and won 3-1 on Saturday.
• Last week Alberta split with the UFV Cascades wining 3-1 on Friday night and losing 3-1 on Saturday night at the UFV Athletics Centre in Abbotsford, B.C.
• The Spartans are 30-45 lifetime against the Pandas.
• Prior to tonight the last time the Spartans and Pandas met in the post-season was March 19, 2022. TWU defeated Alberta 3-1 to win the 2022 Canada West championship in Edmonton, Alta.
• TWU is currently 7-3 in their last 10 CW conference and play-off games against Alberta.

UP NEXT
The Spartans and Pandas will be back at the Langley Events Centre Friday night for game two of the best of three series. The game set for 5 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.