EDMONTON – The U SPORTS No. 2 ranked Pandas opened their 2022 post-season in style, cruising to a 3-0 win (25-13, 25-16, 25-17) Thursday evening at Saville Community Sports Centre.
With the win, the Pandas match the victory from the second-seeded UBC Thunderbirds, who defeated the Winnipeg Wesmen earlier in the day in Edmonton.
Erin Corbett led Alberta with a game-high 11 kills, with Kory White, Lauryn Tremblay, and Vanessa Jarman each adding seven in a well-rounded Pandas attack.
Justine Kolody recorded 31 assists, while Tremblay also adding 10 digs.
Jessica Lerminiaux led the Cougars with seven kills on 29 attempts, with the rest of the Regina squad struggling to find the floor on Thursday night.
The Regina struggles were evident in the first set, as they recorded just six kills and 10 errors on 27 attempts.
By comparison, the Pandas hit on 11 of their 29 attempts, with Tremblay, Corbett, and Jarman each ripping in over three kills each.
The Pandas also made it hard on Regina with a solid block, including seven blocks in the first, and two more in the second set. White scored five of her seven kills in the second, with the Pandas taking a 2-0 lead with a 25-16 set win.
Regina, who finished the match with a negative attack percentage, struggled to keep pace with the top-seeded Pandas. Jarman dominated the third set, sending back three solo blocks.
The Pandas will host the 0-1 Winnipeg Wesmen tomorrow night at Saville, while Regina will take on the 1-0 UBC Thunderbirds during Day 2 of the first round of CW playoffs.