EDMONTON - After upsetting the No. 4 University of Manitoba Bisons on Friday, the University of Alberta Pandas earned a split on the weekend with a four-set loss (25-21, 15-25, 21-25, 22-25), Saturday, November 23 night at Saville Community Sports Centre.

Leading the offensive charge for the Pandas was sophomore outside hitter Meg Casault, netting a game-high 17 kills to improve her weekend total to 39 as well as 14 digs. Another second-year outside hitter, Karly Janssen, put up 13 kills for the home team while third-year setter Annie Abbott had 22 assists.

Third-year left side Taylor Pischke spun 16 kills and four aces for the Bisons while third-year right side Rachel Cockrell added 14 kills and third-year left side Crystal Mulder earned a baker's dozen in kills as well as two aces. Setter Brittany Habing, also a third-year, had 50 assists.

Continuing their great play from Friday, the Pandas used an early 6-0 run to claim a 7-2 lead in the opening set. The Bisons tried to erase the deficit several times but fourth-year middle Dione Lang kept Alberta on top with her set-high six kills before Casault would fire the final point off an outstretched Mariel Garcia for the 1-0 set lead.

The Edmonton native had a hand in half of Alberta's first 12 points in the second set but the Bisons broke the 12-12 deadlock with a 13-3 run started by third-year middle Jordana Milne and finished by Mulder's kill down the sideline, just inside the back corner, to knot the game up at one set apiece.

The momentum carried into the third set with Manitoba opening up a 9-3 lead but Alberta clawed their way back with defence on the block, tying the game at 16-16. Unfortunately for the Pandas, Milne reclaimed the lead for the Bisons with her eighth kill on the night, the road squad never relinquishing the lead for the rest of the set.

In fact, Manitoba held the lead for the rest of the match, grabbing a 4-0 score to start the final set and pushing the Pandas' deficit to double digits at 14-4. Despite Casault and Janssen combining for 15 kills in the fourth set, and a 15-5 Alberta run to cut the deficit to only a single point, the Bisons put up three of the next four points and five of the last eight to close out the game.

The 5-5 Pandas finish off the 2013 half of their season with a two-game series on the road against the Winnipeg Wesmen next weekend while 6-4 Manitoba returns home to host the Trinity Western Spartans.

Canada West women's volleyball

Alberta Pandas vs. No.6 Manitoba Bisons

Final:

            1      2      3      4         Final

UofA-   25    15    21     22           1

UofM-  21     25    25    25           3

AB kill leader: Meg Casault with 17  

MB kill leader: Taylor Pischke with 16