EDMONTON - Second-year Abby Guezen paced the game with 16 kills as the Alberta Pandas dispatched the TRU WolfPack 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-23) Friday night at the Saville Centre.

It was a statement win for the U SPORTS #4 ranked Pandas, who sat just two positions above the #5 ranked WolfPack in conference play this season. TRU played well for most of the game, but just could not get past a stringent Alberta defence that held them to a .105 hitting percentage. The Pandas offence was certainly a large part of the win, as they hit .348 en route to the straight-set victory.

Guezen was flanked by Laila Johnston and Allie Moore who had seven kills apiece, and libero Misha Hameed who was stellar all day, recording 12 massive digs and six assists. With the win, the Pandas move to 12-3 on the year, and sit in third place in the conference. The win marks their 12th straight, as there are not many hotter teams in the nation than the Edmonton squad.

The WolfPack, while less then usual, still saw their vaunted offence get going at points. Rida Erlalelitepe finished with a team-high 12 kills, while Brooklyn Olfert followed closely behind with 11. TRU now sits at 10-3 and in fifth place in the Canada West.

It was a predictably close first set, with Thompson Rivers holding a slight advantage for the majority of the set. The defence was incredible on both sides, as the teams managed to hit a cumulative .157 and the backrows of each squad were flying all over the court. However, down the stretch the Pandas were able to put together a remarkable 8-0 run to take the set 25-21. Guezen paced both squads with seven kills, while the ever-dangerous duo of Erlalelilitepe and Olfert finished with four apiece.

The Pandas continued that overwhelming momentum in the second set, as they quickly got out to a 16-8 lead on the backs of Moore and Mackenzie Pool. Hameed was instrumental in the massive swing in the control of the game, as she had some incredible, set-saving digs and passes from the libero spot for Alberta. The game tightened up from there but the lead would hold as Alberta took the second 25-15 behind four kills from Moore, and three from Pool.

TRU was stronger to start the third, jumping out to an early 8-5 lead behind a couple kills and an ace from Erlalelitepe, and two straight aces from Faith Christensen. The Pandas good day would continue, however, as Guezen and Pool were the catalysts in a 14-6 run moments later to take a slim lead at 22-19. The 'Pack would make it a 24-23 game, but a Johnston kill iced the set and match 25-23.

The teams return to the Saville Centre tomorrow night for a rematch between these two stellar squads.