For only the second time in program history, the WolfPack women’s volleyball team advanced to the Canada West semifinals, taking on the No. 1-ranked Alberta Pandas at the Seville Community Sport Centre in Edmonton.
Before the game, WolfPack orange stood out among the green and yellow Pandas fans. WolfPack fans filled sections of the stands in Edmonton insuring the ‘Pack was backed even in enemy territory.
The wolfpack took the first three points of the night. Alberta’s first point came from a service error by Libby Meldrum, but the Pandas returned the favour with a service error of their own. A strong kill from Hail Ward gave the ’Pack a 5–1 lead before the Pandas responded with a kill from Laila Johnston. From there, Alberta’s next two points came from attack errors, both from TRU’s Gent.
After getting the ball back, TRU’s Faith Christensen served an ace to add to the team’s lead in the game. That point was the beginning of trading points back and forth with multiple kills coming from each side. After trailing early, the Pandas tied the set at 9–9.
Being in Alberta’s home barn was a factor in the game. The loud cheers when Alberta scored helped them keep their spirits high, while the student section rang out boos for the WolfPack. A serve from Maria Dancheva that sailed past the back line gave Alberta another point. The ’Pack tried to pull away at 15–15, but after a Pandas timeout, the momentum shifted. A mix of TRU errors and Alberta service aces eventually allowed the Pandas to take the first set 25–20.
The WolfPack started the second set of the night, gaining the first points again and eventually taking an 8-3 lead, causing the Pandas to take a timeout early in the set. Christensen went on a five-point service run as the WolfPack built confidence and kept strong on the court. Then the Pandas benefited from a series of points, multiple of which came from kills that were just barely out of the ‘Pack’s reach but still kept TRU in the lead 13-7.
A service error from Gent started the chain of points that Alberta would score. Between the roaring crowd and the shift in momentum to the Panadas, TRU visibly started making mistakes on the court. Alberta surged ahead to a 20-16 lead, despite the determination, TRU could not make up enough points, and the second set went in favour of the home team again.
The third set was do or die for the WolfPack. Once again, they took the first point, but a serve straight into the net from Meldrum caused the Pandas to get the ball and eventually a 3-1 lead. The ‘pack continued to score points off the Pandas’ balls, but two more service errors caused the points to counteract. While the score was 7-8, the WolfPack had an impressive rally, but an unlucky block attempt that went just off the tips of TRU’s fingers gave Alberta the lead again.
Alberta quickly took a 20-12 lead, but the WolfPack weren’t letting them get the win that easily. TRU persevered and, through a series of rallies, kills and strong attacks, they clawed their way back into the set, bringing the score to 22-18.
The section of Wolfpack fans cheered louder than at any moment all night while the team continued to make impressive kills and keep themselves in the game when the score was 19-23. However serve that went outside the court by Rida Erlalelitepe allowed the Pandas to be one point away from winning, and an attack error from TRU would give them just that point. The Alberta Pandas won the set 25-23, sweeping the TRU WolfPack and advancing to the Gold medal game on Saturday.
“The girls tried to make a push in the third, but we are playing the No. 1-ranked team in the country in their home gym, and sometimes that takes effect,” Head Coach Chad Grimm said. “Sometimes that’s just the way it goes.”
Archie Golding, a videographer, was one of many WolfPack fans in Edmonton supporting the team. ”I don’t know if there’s much they can change. I think Alberta just played absolutely outta their skin. They didn’t let anything hit the floor. They had such a good game, “ he said. “It’s just in those final moments, I think we really needed to lock in a little bit more and be the team that gets the edge in. In the end, today was a close game right to the end of each set, and we just lost it a little bit.”
In the End TRU fought till the very last point of the game, never once giving up. The team had an impressive season that broke many program records. Ward led the team with 10 kills in the night, while Dancheva led the team with a .400 hitting percentage.
The WolfPack will play Saturday night again in the Bronze Medal game against the loser of the UBC vs Trinity Western semifinal game.