David Kent, Griffins Athletics
Edmonton, AB……The University of Alberta Pandas defeated the MacEwan University Griffins, 3-0, in Canada West action, at the City Centre Campus Court, on the campus of MacEwan University. The Pandas, ranked number one in the CIS improved their conference record to 7-0, while MacEwan University's record falls top 3-4. The set scores were 25-21, 25-22 and 25-20.
The Griffins battled all night with their cross town rivals challenging the Pandas in all three sets and taking the lead on numerous points of the second and third sets. "We know their players well, we play together on our club team," said third year outside hitter Cassidy Kinsella. "They (Alberta) have a very complex offense and we had a great game plan going into tonight's match against them," said the Leduc, Alberta native.
The first set was close but the Pandas never trailed in the set winning by four points, 25-21. The Griffins came out on fire in the second set and pulled even at eight points each, after a time out, MacEwan University rattled off eight of the next 13 points to take a 16-13 lead before the country's number one team pulled even at 16. While MacEwan University would stay close, Alberta's experience took over the rest of the second set to win by three points, 25-22.
The third set was the very entertaining as MacEwan University grabbed the early lead and built a 13-8 lead midway through the set before the Pandas went on a five point run and held onto the set by five points, to win the match in three sets overall.
Kinsella was named the Griffins "player of the match." Cassidy led MacEwan University with 12 kills and 10 digs.
The Pandas were paced by Meg Casault, Edmonton, AB with 15 kills, and eight digs.
ALB 25 25 25 = 3 (7-0)
GMU 21 22 20 = 0 (3-4)
For further information on the MacEwan University Griffins please contact David Kent, at 780-497-5324 or by email at kentd22@macewan.ca and Junelle Mah, at 780-289-3037 or by email at mahj67@macewan.ca.
Photo Credit: Len Joudrey, Griffins Athletics