EDMONTON - The No.1 University of Alberta Pandas volleyball team completed the straight-sets weekend with a second consecutive 3-0 victory (25-18, 25-15, 25-14) over the Winnipeg Wesmen on Saturday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre. The two wins move the Pandas to 13-3 on the season while the Wesmen drop to 7-9 on the year.

Alberta was led in kills by third-year outside hitter Kacey Otto with 11, second-year setter Mariah Walsh with 26 assists on the night, and defensively, fourth-year libero Jessie Niles had 19 digs.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, was led in kills for the second-straight night by fourth-year libero Tia Boroski with nine, while fourth-year right side Elina Domnidou tallied 19 assists and also led the team in digs with 14.

The first set started off quite evenly before the Pandas pulled away behind a solid seven-point run behind the serve of setter Mariah Walsh that moved the Pandas ahead in the set to 10-3. After a Winnipeg timeout, the Wesmen tried to find their groove but the Alberta attack proved too strong, breaking the set open further to a 16-7 lead off of a Josephine Doerfler ace which forced Winnipeg to call their second timeout. The Wesmen emerged from the stoppage with some life off of two consecutive blocks from their team leader in blocks, middle Aaliyah Masepela highlighting a 5-0 run and getting the score back to 16-12, forcing an Alberta timeout. The Pandas then took control of the set behind the serve of Meg Casault, moving them ahead 24-17 and finishing the set off a monster hit from outside Kacey Otto.

The second set began quite tight once again until the Pandas opened up their game with a huge rally win at 6-4 off a Doerfler hit off the block and held serve until 9-4. The Wesmen battled back to 11-9 before Doerfler finished another ball with authority from the outside to slow down the Winnipeg momentum and Alberta pushed the lead to 15-9. A right side attack from Otto made it 16-11 before Alberta moved it to 18-13 off some solid passing from second-year setter Eryn Orysiuk. The Pandas jumped ahead to 23-15 off an outside attack out of bounds from Winnipeg, followed by Otto adding a block at the net to put Alberta to set point and a wide hit from the Wesmen finished it 25-15. Hailey Buhler had five kills in the second set to lead Winnipeg, Casault had four to lead Alberta.

Alberta got off to a strong start in the third, as Doerfler served up an ace and the Pandas jumped out to a big 7-0 lead, highlighted by two big kills from Otto. Dione Lang had two big kills from her middle position as Alberta continued their strong start, up 10-3. A service ace from Casault put the Pandas ahead 15-5 as Alberta continued their roll with a big hit off a block from second-year outside Gbemisola Olutogun made it 22-11. A hit off a block from third-year outside hitter Karly Janssen put Alberta to set point at 24-12 and they finished the match and the weekend off of a block at the net, winning the set 25-14.

The Pandas are on the road next weekend as they head to Winnipeg to take on the University of Manitoba Bisons, returning home to the SCSC on January 23-24 against the University of Regina Cougars. The Wesmen stay in the province in next weekend's action, heading south to contend with the Calgary Dinos.