Pandas volleyball win home-opener game against Manitoba Bisons

On November 2, the University of Alberta Pandas volleyball team played the University of Manitoba Bisons at the Saville Centre. The team to come up on top was a bit uncertain, but the Pandas succeeded. This was definitely a step up from their 3-0 loss on November 1 against the Bisons.

The Pandas were successful against the Bisons in the first, fourth, and fifth sets. They lost the second and third sets. 

There were notable players in this game on both teams. Laila Johnston and Abby Guezen from the Pandas had the most kills, catching the eye of many fans during this match. 

The Pandas secured the first set with a 25-22 finish. The set started with the Pandas earning a point through an attack error by Bisons player Raya Surinx. During this set, Guezen executed seven kills with one service ace and no errors. Johnston, Mackenzie Pool, Guezen, and Allie Moore scored more than two kills in the same set.

The Pandas didn’t have the same luck in the second set, which ended 18-25 to the Bisons. Ronnie Dickson got the first point in the second set. Yet, fans could see teammates motivating one another, boosting their morale in preparation for the third set. 

The first point in the third set went to the Bisons, but that did not stop the Pandas from giving it their all. Guezen was a main contributor to the game, and the Pandas were pushed further to a potential victory with each kill. This wasn’t enough as the Bisons gained the set with a 25-21 finish.

Starting the fourth set was Guezen with another kill. Guezen made five kills in total for this set and Pool contributed four more. There were seven service and error attacks from the Pandas compared to the eight error and service attacks from the Bisons. Nevertheless, this set ended with a score of 24-26 to the Pandas.

Guezen made the first kill in the fifth set. Competition between the two teams was fierce as this was the last set. There were some errors as well as service aces from both teams. The Pandas ended the set with a 15-13 score. The game ended 2-3 in favour of the Pandas.