Pandas Shutdown the Dogs Late, Secure Weekend Sweep

EDMONTON, Alta. – Alberta’s Laila Johnston had a season-high 18 kills to lead the Alberta Pandas to a 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-11, 25-11) victory Saturday evening at the Saville Centre.

Johnston added 2.5 total blocks in what was a concerted Pandas effort at the net to get hands on attacks, as they recorded a stalwart 16 total blocks as a team and held the Huskies to a .102 attacking percentage. 

It was a great two-way effort from the home side as well, as they hit .372 themselves with fourth-year setter Justine Kolody distributing the ball incredibly well, finishing with 45 assists. Johnston was joined in the attack by second-year Abby Guezen and third-year Mackenzie Pool who had 16 and eight kills respectively.

With the weekend sweep, Alberta moves to 5-3 early in the season, while the Huskies head to next weekend with the inverse record at 3-5.

The Pandas got off to a hot start in this one, forcing an early Huskies timeout with an opening 8-3 run where Guezen had three of her four kills in the set. They kept it rolling en route to a 25-17 set victory, where the Pandas held the Huskies to just a .056 hitting percentage and recorded seven total blocks in what amounted to a dominant performance at the net. Alberta’s Laila Johnston led all players with a set-high five kills in the frame, in addition to two blocks.

The second set was a lot closer, as Saskatchewan was able to piece together some great offensive runs led by Taryn Hannah in what became an 18-18 game. They would then go on a 7-3 run to win the second set 25-21, with Hannah recording a set-high five kills in the frame to help the Huskies capture some momentum.

The Pandas had an answer for the Huskies in the third set, hitting an explosive .565 in the set en route to a 25-11 blowout. The home side was dominant on the defensive side too, holding Saskatchewan to a negative attacking mark themselves, as the Pandas headed to the fourth set smelling blood in the water. Johnston and Mackenzie Pool paced the attack with five and four kills, respectively.

The fourth set was close until a 9-point run from Alberta put the Pandas up 19-8, a lead they would cruise with to a 25-11 set and match win. Johnston was incredible in the frame, finishing with five of her game-high 18 kills on the day.

Both squads are at home next weekend, with Alberta in a rivalry series against the Calgary Dinos and the Huskies returning to Saskatoon for a set against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.