Pandas sweep Spartans, punch ticket to semifinal

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 6 Trinity Western Spartans (19-5) saw their 2023-24 season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to the Alberta Pandas Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B,C. The Pandas 25-18, 25-21, 25-17 victory gives Alberta the best of three series 2-0 and send the Pandas to the Canada West semifinals next weekend.
 
The Pandas controlled the match at the net and from the end line. Alberta finished with a 9.5-4.5 edge in total blocks, and an 8-1 edge in service aces.
 
Second-year Maryn Boldon (Okotoks, Alta.) with 10 kills, and six digs, and third-year middle Kaylee Plouffe (Sherwood Park, Alta.) with nine kills, and one block led the Spartans. Lauryn Tremblay with 12 kills, and 11 digs, and Ronnie Dickson with 10 kills, three blocks, and two service aces led the Pandas.
 
Second-year setter Sydney Gill (St. Catharines, Ont.) finished with 22 set assists, while Alberta’s Justine Kolody led the Pandas with 33 assists.

NOTABLE

• The Spartans finished the night hitting at .182 (32-16-88), while the Pandas finished at .396 (41-9-98).
• The Spartans finished with 39 digs, to the Pandas 35.
• Last night the Spartans lost the opening game 3-1 to the Pandas.
• The Spartans are 30-46 lifetime against the Pandas.
• Prior to tonight the last time the Spartans and Pandas met in the post-season was March 19, 2022. TWU defeaed Alberta 3-1 to win the 2022 Canada West championship in Edmonton, Alta.
• The last time the Spartans did not advance to the Canada West Final Four was the 2017-18 season when TWU lost to Alberta 2-1 in Edmonton, Alta.
• TWU had one four straight Canada West Championships.­
• The Spartans had been to 11 of the last 12 national championship tournaments.