EDMONTON – Justine Kolody had 27 assists to help lead the Alberta Pandas over the Regina Cougars 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-15) Friday evening at the Saville Centre.
If there was a 5×5 basketball stat equivalent in volleyball, Kolody sure came close if not exceeded it. To her game-high assist number she added three kills, two aces, five digs, and a solo block to boot in one of the more impressive performances on the season for the Pandas.
She was aided by second-year outside hitter Mackenzie Pool who had a game-high nine kills and hit an outstanding .615. The Cougars saw a good performance from setter Cassadi Klapak who had 17 assists to go with a game-high five service aces.
Alberta moves to 9-2 overall on the season and remains in third place in the conference, while Regina drops to 0-11.
The first set started a back-and-forth affair, with the teams inching forward to 14-14 before Kolody and the Pandas opened the score up with a 11-2 run from there to help take the first set 25-16. The Alberta setter was on fire, recording a set-high 10 assists to go with two kills and a solo block.
The Cougars sure shook off any rust to start the second set, scoring the first four points and jumping out to a 9-4 lead aided by four total blocks in the stretch. They held the lead most of the set until a late Alberta surge inspired by an Allie Moore successive block and kill led to a 25-xx Pandas win. Cougs outside hitter Jordy McEarchern led the set with four kills, while Alberta was paced by Moore who had three of her own.
Alberta kept the momentum going into the third set, gliding to a 9-1 lead early on behind some stellar defence at the net and backline. They would extend the lead all the way to a 20-5 score before Regina heated up to make the final, 25-15, a little closer.
The teams return to action tomorrow night at 7 MST in what will be the last game of the 2023 calendar year for both squads.