WVB: Huskies Lose Opener to Pandas

EDMONTON – The Alberta Pandas defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies to open the season 3-0 Friday night at Saville Community Sports Centre. 

Pandas Lauryn Tremblay led the attack for Alberta with a game-high 14 kills, adding 13 digs and four assisted blocks. Setter Justine Kolody recording 33 assists. 
 
Devyn Ethier led the Huskies with eight kills on 30 swings, while middle Mandi Fraser had five blocks and setter Averie Allard had 27 assists.
 
The first set saw the Huskies search to find their rhythm early struggling hitting but fought their way through the set just falling short 25-21. 
 
The second set was arguably the closest and most entertaining, with both sides finishing with nearly identical attack percentages. The Huskies led 10-7, and again at 19-17 in a back-and-forth set, but the Pandas completed the comeback to win the set 25-23.
 
The third set saw the Huskies looking to force a fourth set jumping out to a 9-5 lead early, but the Pandas were not going away. After tying it 14-14 UofA went on a run to make it 24-18, the Huskies fought to get it within reach but ultimately fell short losing the final set 25-23
 
The Huskies fought hard all night but were unable to get a set win losing 3-0 (21-25, 23-25, 23-25). The two prairie rivals will square off again tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m MT.