Paul Cartledge, Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON – Expected to carry the load offensively this season, fourth-year outside hitter Alex McMullin and sophomore middle Taryq Sani did exactly that in the team's home-opener, leading the way in a straight-sets victory (25-12, 25-20, 25-21) by the No.8 University of Alberta Golden Bears over the MacEwan University Griffins, Sunday night at Saville Community Sports Centre.
Coming from Brisbane, Australia, McMullin recorded a game-high 11 kills alongside Sani, a 2016-17 Canada West All-Rookie team member, who also recorded 11 to go with two aces. Second-year setter Max Elgert had a game-high 35 assists and four aces.
Outside hitters Kai Hesthammer (fourth-year) and Jordan Peters (second-year) tallied seven kills apiece for the Griffins, sophomore setter Jonathan Mohler netting a team-high 14 assists.
The Golden Bears came out strong, earning a 6-2 run to begin the opening set and following with a six-point run shortly after with Elgert making half of them with aces.
Despite a 19-7 lead, Alberta had some struggles closing out the set, the Griffins staying alive for five more points but a failed MacEwan block error gave the home team a 1-0 set lead.
The middle set was more of an even battle, neither squad getting more than a three-point lead until the Bears managed to put together a four-point string to find a five-point lead that propelled them towards winning the second set after a Jackson Kennedy ace landed in front of Hesthammer.
A 7-2 run broke an early 3-3 tie in the final set, Alberta scoring another six consecutive points not much later to spot themselves a 15-7 lead, but the Griffins refused to give up easily.
Going point-for-point to hit 21-12, MacEwan unleashed an 8-2 run to get within three points of the 2016-17 U SPORTS silver medalists, but Sani put an end to the proceedings, the Golden Bears leading scorer in kills finding court down the sideline for the match point.
Alberta, now 2-0, heads off to Regina next weekend to face the Cougars while the 0-4 Griffins have a "bye" week before hosting the UBC Okanagan Heat.