Jason Hills
For MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Sometimes a team just has a few more tricks up their sleeve.
The MacEwan Griffins competed and hung with the nationally-ranked Alberta, but they just couldn't find a way to break through as the Pandas seemed to have an answer for every move they made.
It resulted in a straight sets loss (25-19, 25-22, 25-18) on Saturday night at the David Atkinson Gym.
Mariah Bereziuk led the Griffins with eight kills, while Payton Shimoda recorded 15 assists. Bronwyn Ettinger and Arden Butler each had 10 digs in the loss for MacEwan who fell to 11-9 this season.
Lauryn Tremblay led Alberta with 13 kills and 10 digs, while rookie outside hitter Abby Guezen chipped in with 11 kills and six digs.
"I think the stronger teams we play challenge us at the end," said Griffins outside hitter Madison Hoppus.
"They have a deep toolbox of shots against us, and they challenge our defence. I think we're right there in it, but we need to learn from teams like this and try and transfer some of that into our game. I think we're getting close."
After a tough night against Alberta on Friday, MacEwan came out much stronger in that regard. In the opening set, they were able to jump out to a 7-5 lead after a nice tip from Kara Frith. They continued to push and were able to go up 12-9 after a kill from Butler, and blocks from Bereziuk and Shimoda.
The Pandas kept pace with MacEwan, though, and after a block from middle Sarah McGee to tie it at 17-17, Alberta was able to take the lead on the next play and not look back.
"It's tough to get momentum against a team like that. They're a big team, and they can block well, and they challenge our shots," said Hoppus. "When you get shut down, you need to bounce back and volleyball is all about momentum, especially against teams like that.
"In situations like today, we needed to find a way to keep momentum going."
MacEwan once again jumped out to a nice 6-2 lead in the second set, but after Allie Moore recorded back-to-back aces, it was 6-5, and the Pandas went on an 11-5 run to break the set open. But despite being down 17-10, MacEwan clawed their way back into the match and, after a service ace from Hoppus and a tip and two kills from Bereziuk, MacEwan only trailed 18-16.
But Alberta gathered themselves, regained momentum and earned the 25-22 set win.
W��| SET 2
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) February 4, 2024
Arden Butler hammers one off the block and to the floor.
The Griffins trail #YEG rival @BearsandPandas 2-0 after narrowly losing the second set 25-22.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/yj6dknJPxc
"When you watch them switch up their shots, we can learn from that. What do they do after they come out of a timeout? What do they do when they start to struggle? We need to take pieces of their game and add it to ours," said Hoppus.
In the third set, MacEwan jumped out to an 8-5 lead on the strength of back-to-back-to-back aces from Bereziuk, but Alberta was able to take control and go on a 4-0 run to take a 9-8 lead, and they didn't relinquish it the rest of the way.
While MacEwan hung in with Alberta, where they struggled on Saturday was their lack of finish at the attack line.
"We competed, but they're a good and well-structured team. We passed the ball better tonight, but we didn't put the ball away. We were negative in some respects, percentage wise, and that doesn't cut it," said Griffins head coach Chris Wandler.
"We didn't give up any ground emotionally, and I liked that part from us, but I think it came down to fitness. We need to get more physical and put the ball away."
The Griffins are still in control of clinching a playoff berth for the first time since the 2019-20 season, and despite the weekend sweep, the Griffins feel they can learn a lot from these losses.
"I don't think we should be disappointed. We battled, we got down in the second, and we fought back and battled, and that's all we can do," said Hoppus.
"We want different results, but as long as the effort is there, our confidence should keep growing and so does our toolbox, too."
