Pandas volleyball has an easier quarterfinals than expected

What more could you ask for?

A six set victory as opposed to seven?

Despite ending the regular season on a 17-game heater, University of Alberta Pandas volleyball coach, Carolyn O’Dwyer, still thought the quarterfinals against the Winnipeg Wesmen would last a little longer.

“They’ve had a really good season. They’re also a team that keeps a lot of rallies alive and never seems to go away. You have to really take it to them and beat them,” O’Dwyer said.

“So yeah, that was maybe a little bit unexpected from what we’ve seen.”

Perhaps the Wesmen let the nerves of facing the top dogs in Canada West get to them. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Though the underwhelming, slow to react Wesman showed up to Saville Center acting as if they were the ones who got the week off instead of battling it out in the play ins.

“It’s weird to have a bye prior to prior to playoffs. So wasn’t quite sure how they’d show up.”

For reference, the Pandas had a bye week during the play-ins while the Wesmen fought for a well earned, though poorly played spot at Saville for the quarterfinals.

It’s a new-ish system, and it’s not the most popular. Particularly because in a non-contact sport like volleyball where players are less likely to get injured, coaches don’t want their starting lineup to sit for a week while their quarterfinal rivals get a little hot.

“We focused on what we needed to do to get better and be the best version of ourselves in playoffs. So, we really worked on engaging our middle attack more. That was a big theme of the week. And then working on our passing,” O’Dwyer said.

“Following the game plan. Really making sure we had some variety in what we were doing. We definitely wanted to engage the middles and then engage our back row.”

And yes, O’Dwyer was referring to Allie Moore and Ronnie Dickson, the number one and number two blocking duo in Canada West.

“Teams don’t necessarily want to attack hard at our middle blockers, which just helps us defensively,” O’Dwyer said.

“They both have size. They do a good job reading the game. So I think sometimes people shy away. They don’t want to get that slam drop on them.”

Credit to where credit is due, the Wesmen did come back to steal set one in game two after going 0-3 the night prior, but only one set.

“They didn’t want their season to be over.”

Obviously. But they couldn’t beat Abby Guezen’s 13 kills on February 28 to send them home either.

“You never know with the extra pressure of playoffs, or what that brings. But I think she did a good job of adding in some speed and not hitting the same angles,” O’Dwyer said.

Come set three in game one, Guezen had one less kill to her name than the Wesmen had in the first two sets.

“She’s just a huge leader on our team, and I think that always helps us perform.”

To perform in the front row? Absolutely. The back row? That’s out of her control.

In an offensively unmatched game, the Wesmen might have had the Pandas in a defensive serve-recieve performance.

“They’re a team that’s really good defensively.”

It just wasn’t enough to go to the final four, or make a bid for a spot the Pandas have all but claimed at the U Sports Championship.

“I was impressed with them to kind of come out and take two big right away.”

Three stars of the series