Pandas continue rolling with four-set win over Mount Royal

EDMONTON – A strong Alberta attack led by veteran standouts Kory White and Vanessa Jarman paved the way for a four-set victory over the Mount Royal Cougars (21-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-22).

The win is the fifth straight for the Pandas (16-1) whose only loss has come against the very same Cougars (13-4) earlier this year.

Fifth-year White finished with 12 kills helping a Pandas attack that had a .350 hitting percentage for the game. Alberta has the most efficient attack in the Canada West this season.

Outside hitter Madison Marshall had a game-high of 18 kills for the Cougars, while teammate setter Quinn Pelland had 47 assists in impressive showings for both players.

Thanks to strong attacking from the front three the Cougars took the first set 25-21. Outside hitter Jessica Oschevski had a remarkable streak of three straight service aces at the beginning of the frame, quartering her previous total on the year. Setter Quinn Pelland had everyone engaged for the Cougars with all five other Mount Royal starters recording at least two kills in the set.

There was a late Alberta comeback, led by all-time CW kills leader White with a set-high four kills, which included a 7-1 run near the end of the frame, but it was for naught.

Jarman and the Pandas caught fire in the second, with her five kills helping to a 25-22 win. The Alberta attack more than doubled their efficiency from the last set, finishing at .359. Madison Marshall finished with a set-high seven kills for the Cougs.

The set was inch close, but the Cougars made some critical errors in service and on attack that allowed a Pandas set win.

The third set was punctuated by a ferocious Alberta attack, which recorded 16 kills on .424 efficiency, and a Mount Royal team that could not get it going offensively. Setter Justine Kolody was an orchestrator with 14 assists in the frame going to all five Pandas starters. Alberta took the set 25-17.

The Alberta attack had an impressive 30 kills against three errors over the second and third sets.

While the fourth set was a close 25-22, Alberta had control of the set throughout. Rookie Meghan John had five kills in the set.

For CW playoffs implications, the Cougars will be playing in Pool C hosted by Saskatchewan next weekend while Alberta has wrapped up a hosting gig in Pool B.

The teams play their final game of the season tomorrow at the Saville Centre at 6:30 PM.