Varying outcomes over the break for Alberta volleyball
Winter break took the University of Alberta volleyball programs to two different tournaments, and the results were extremely different.
University of Alberta The University of Alberta Golden Bears travelled to California for the North American Challenge, facing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I programs in Long Beach. The Pandas stayed in Edmonton, hosting the New Years Classic against familiar U Sports opponents. By the end of the weekend, the Bears had gone winless on the road, while the Pandas ended the break undefeated.
For the Bears, the results in California look bad. Alberta dropped matches to Long Beach State and UC San Diego over three days, finishing the trip without a win. However, context matters.
Those programs play in the NCAA Division I system, where the pace and physicality is higher than the U Sports level. NCAA volleyball is faster and less forgiving towards undisciplined play. Alberta had moments where they stayed competitive, especially early in matches, but sustaining that level proved difficult as the tournament progressed.
The North American Challenge is not about padding a record. It is about seeing what elite volleyball looks like up close and measuring yourself against it. Alberta did that. The lessons from California will matter more once conference play resumes.
Back in Edmonton, the Pandas had more favourable outcomes.
Alberta opened the New Years Classic with a four set win over the University of Toronto, then followed it up with 3-0 victories over the University of British Columbia and Dalhousie University. The final match against Dalhousie was the clearest example of how in control the Pandas were throughout the weekend.
Alberta dictated play from the opening serve. Errors were limited. The offence stayed balanced. Defensively, the Pandas stayed organized and rarely allowed opponents to build momentum. Dalhousie struggled to find clean swings, and once Alberta gained control of a set, it did not let go.
What stood out most was composure.
The team did not rely on long scoring runs or emotional swings. They stayed steady, took points when they were available, and closed sets without drama. That composure and consistency is what wins U Sports championships.
The Pandas faced strong U Sports competition and took care of business. The Golden Bears stepped into one of the toughest environments they will see all season and came away with only two sets and a greater sense of their strengths and weaknesses.
Both will be important factors in a competitive postseason.
One program returns with confidence, while the other returns sharpened and battle-tested. Conference performances during the winter semester will prove how effective these games really were.
