EDMONTON – After earning a big lead the University of Alberta Pandas volleyball team found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-2 decision (25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 26-28, 13-15), as they dropped their season opening match to the UBC-Okanagan Heat Friday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre.

Third-year outside hitter Meg Casault powered the Pandas attack with a team high 18 kills, while Josephine Doerfler recorded 10 kills in her CIS regular season debut. The German-born Doerfler also recorded three aces and 11 digs.

Brianna Beamish, a fourth-year outside hitter from Surrey, B.C., led all attackers on the night, with 21 kills, while Megan Festival added 12 and Katy Klomps chipped in with 10.

Alberta, ranked No.1 in Canada West in a preseason coaches poll, cruised to a 2-0 match lead, thanks to dominant set scores of 25-16 and 25-18. But the wheels fell off in the third set, giving UBC-O the opening they needed to claw back into the match.

The Pandas quickly fell behind in the third set, trailing 10-5 to the Heat, and although they were able to draw within three points on a couple of occasions, they could not overcome their deficit as they lost 25-20 to make it a 2-1 match.

The fourth set was a see-saw affair, but as it progressed it seemed like Alberta, which earned an 11-2 preseason record, was going to come out on top. However, as the opportunity to win the match loomed nearer, the home side began to falter and UBC-O took full advantage of the opening and tied the score 24-24. From there, the teams went back-and-forth in points, but eventually the Heat tied the match when they closed out the fourth with a 28-26 win.

In the fifth set UBC-Okanagan continued to ride the momentum wave, as they went from down 2-0, on the road, to 3-2 winners thanks to a tight 15-13 final set victory.

Alberta and UBC-O will clash again on Saturday, this time at 5:00 p.m.