UofA AthleticsAlberta won the U Sports women’s volleyball championship on March 15, sweeping Université de Sherbrooke in straight sets to claim the program’s first national title since 2007. The final itself was not long. It lasted just three sets. But the run that got the Pandas there, and the way they finished it, made it feel like the proper end to one of the best seasons in program history.
Road to the championship
A week earlier, Alberta had already proven it was the best team in Canada West. The Pandas beat Trinity Western University in four sets to win the conference title, and that match said a lot about what this group had become. They were the stronger side early, taking the first two sets, then had to survive a fourth-set scare when the Spartans took charge and gained momentum. Down badly in that set, the Pandas did not fold. Abby Guezen and Ronnie Dickson were huge, the block tightened up, and the crowd at Saville went from flat to loud in a hurry as Alberta stormed back and closed it out. That comeback inside the fourth set felt like the emotional high point of the playoff run.
The semifinal against Trinity Western was another four-set win, and another reminder that Alberta did not need perfect volleyball to win big matches. Laila Johnston led the way with 11 kills, Guezen added 14, and Justine Kolody ran the offence with 44 assists. Alberta dropped the first set, cleaned things up, and took control from there. By the end of Saturday night, the Pandas were back in the national final for the second time in three seasons.
Staying in control
There was no comeback needed this time. No hanging around and waiting for the match to settle. Alberta launched out of the gates and never looked back.
The Pandas beat Sherbrooke 25-13, 25-23, 25-12, and the stats tell the story pretty clearly. Alberta hit .340 as a team while holding Sherbrooke to a measly .042. The Pandas also finished with 12 total blocks and six service aces in the win. Johnston had 12 kills on a .500 hitting percentage, while Guezen had 11 kills and four service aces. Kolody added 31 assists, and the Alberta defence matched Sherbrooke with 39 digs.
It was the kind of final that top seeds hope to play and rarely do. Alberta controlled the first set from the start. The second was tighter, but the Pandas handled the important points better. Then the third turned into a finish line. Alberta got there fast.
Guezen being named championship most valuable player (MVP) felt right. She had already been one of the most dangerous players in the country all season, ranking near the top in kills per set and service aces per set. This statistical dominance earned her Canada West Player of the Year, and U Sports Player of the Year. In the playoff run, she looked exactly like that kind of player. When Alberta needed a clean swing, she usually gave them one. When the pressure rose, she still had the clutch she displayed all year. Dickson deserves mention right beside her. She had already established herself as one of the best blockers in the country this season, and in the biggest matches she kept changing points at the net.
Looking back
That is what stands out most about this team now that the year is over. It was not built on one thing. Alberta had stars, but it also had depth. Johnston could take over stretches. Guezen could carry the offence. Dickson and Allie Moore gave them a serious middle presence. Kolody kept the attack moving. Misha Hameed filled in the back row and held things together. When one part dipped, the team filled in for one another.
That chemistry is why this championship run ended in a title instead of a silver like the previous year.
As for the men, it was a much harder finish. The Golden Bears lost in the Canada West semifinal, then fell again in the bronze medal match to the University of British Columbia. Their season ended one step short of nationals, which made for a disappointing final weekend after a strong year overall.
The Pandas gave Alberta volleyball a much better ending.
They won Canada West. They won U Sports. They beat the hosts in the semifinal and handled a very good Sherbrooke team in the final. Most importantly, they finished the job. After entering nationals as the top seed for the second straight year, they did not leave any doubt this time.
For the first time since 2007, the Pandas are national champions again.
