WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to the Alberta Pandas on Friday night, falling 18-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-13.
The loss moved Manitoba to 4-3 on the Canada West season, while Alberta remained unbeaten at 5-0.
The Bisons opened strongly, hitting .457 as a team in the first set and using a late 11-4 run to pull away for a 25-18 victory.
Bethany Carter recorded six kills in the frame, while Manitoba held Alberta to a .182 attacking percentage.
The second set was tightly contested throughout, featuring 16 ties and 10 lead changes. Manitoba held set point at 24-23, but Alberta erased the deficit with back-to-back kills from Laila Johnston and Ronnie Dickson to claim a 26-24 win and even the match.
The Pandas carried the momentum into the third set, breaking a 17-all tie with an 8-0 run to secure a 25-17 victory. Alberta then seized control early in the fourth set, scoring eight of the first nine points and never allowing Manitoba to get closer than five the rest of the way en route to a 25-13 win.
Carter led all Manitoba players with 17 kills and added eight digs, while
Jersey Hansen-Young contributed 11 kills and nine digs. Selma Hodne added 10 kills on .412 hitting, and Lucy Jurgensen recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs.
Setter
Julia Martens directed the offence with 43 assists, while libero
Chelsea Siebenga registered 12 digs.
Alberta was led by Mackenzie Pool with 14 kills, two service aces and 18.5 points. Laila Johnston also recorded 14 kills, while Ronnie Dickson contributed seven kills, three aces and six block assists. Setter Selima Guidara finished with 34 assists as the Pandas recorded 16 team blocks and seven service aces.
Manitoba finished with 56 kills to Alberta's 47, but the Pandas held advantages in hitting percentage (.233 to .171), blocks (16-5) and service aces (7-2).
The two teams conclude their weekend series Saturday in Winnipeg.
