EDMONTON – Allie Moore stuffed the stats sheet with a two-kill, seven-block, five-ace performance as the Pandas swept their crosstown rival the MacEwan Griffins 3-0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-11) Friday evening at the Saville Centre.
It was a uniquely dominant game from Moore, the CW blocks-per-set leader, who now has the third-highest ace total in a game this season. She was joined in a great game by Pandas veteran Lauryn Tremblay who tied with a game-high nine kills.
The Griffins were led by Mariah Bereziuk who had nine kills as well, and second-year setter Payton Shimoda who finished with 18 assists.
With the win, the Pandas stop a three-game losing skid, and move to 7-10 on the year. The Griffins slide to 2-15 with their seventh-straight loss.
The Pandas started great out of the gate, largely due to phenomenal play from rookie Laila Johnston. She recorded three straight kills to start the game to go along with a block assist. The Griffins initially struggled to contain the Alberta attack, with the hosts jumping out to an 11-3 lead. However, the Griffins found their footing and rattled off a 6-1 run to get back into the set led by Bereziuk, who is currently seventh in the CW in kills-per-set. The teams would trade points before a fierce Pandas attack, coupled with a multitude of errors, would hand the set to Alberta 25-14. The rookie Moore had a good set for the hosts, recording four service aces to go with three total blocks.
The Pandas maintained their momentum throughout the second set, leaning on a varied attack orchestrated by setter Justine Kolody, who finished with 24 assists in the game. Alberta finished with a .333 hitting percentage in the frame, compared to MacEwan’s -.179. Tremblay, second in the CW in kills-per-set, finished with a set-high three kills as the Pandas cruised to a 25-11 win.
Bereziuk and the Griffins started the third set off well, with the Griffins kills leader potting three early kills on the way to a 6-5 start. However, it would be all Pandas from there as the third set finished like the second, 25-11. They hit an astounding .667 in the frame, led by Tremblay who had three kills.
The teams square off tomorrow evening for their last regular season matchup of the season.