WVB: Alberta inches past UBC 3-2 in phenomenal Canada West Gold Medal Game

Recap by Connor McCallister, University of Alberta Sports Information

EDMONTON - Instant. Classic.

For the first time since 2017, the Canada West Gold Medal belongs in Alberta after the #2-seeded Alberta Pandas beat the #4 UBC Thunderbirds in a 3-2 instant classic championship match at the Saville Centre Saturday night. 

In front of over 1,000-strong in the Competition Gym, Carolyn O'Dwyer's Pandas got the job done in a perfect championship game that was undoubtedly the best played in the conference all year.

"It's been a great streak, but the jobs not finished. Just an incredible group, and I'm proud of their resiliency," said O'Dwyer, whose Pandas rallied back from a 25-14 fourth set loss. "We didn't want to be in that position. But at that point, you just have to go after it. If we said before the season started we'd be in the fifth set of the Canada West Final, we'd take it."

Abby Guezen was the team and co-leader in kills with 16 in the match, but in truth the contributions went nine-deep for an Alberta squad that finally triumphs after years of near-victory. CW All-Star Justine Kolody had 45 assists as she orchestrated an offence that hit .265 on the day.

"We had that refusal to lose in the fifth. A perfect example of just not letting the ball touch the floor, and not give them anything easy," continued O'Dwyer. "Hopefully some good character building for us heading into next week."

For Alberta, it is their 12th CW Championship in program history, as they finish out the year on a 21-game winning streak to finish cumulatively at 21-3. They will travel with UBC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to the 2025 U SPORTS Championship starting next Friday in Winnipeg.

The Thunderbirds were at their best at points on Saturday, with their .343 attacking percentage outdoing the Pandas, but they were simply unable to find themselves on the right side of some incredibly tight sets with Alberta's points margin in their three winning sets was just seven, one above minimum. Akash Grewal was phenomenal for UBC, co-leading the game with 16 kills, while setter Issy Robertshaw had a true maestro performance with a game-high 57 assists, tied for eighth all-time in CW postseason single-match play.

Perhaps some nerves are to be expected in a gold medal match, as seven of the first 12 points in the game were on attack or service errors in the opening frame as Alberta inched to an early 7-5 lead. However, two mid-set 3-0 runs from Lucy Borowski and the Thunderbirds gave the visitors a 20-18 lead headed down the stretch in an exciting first set. However, harped on by a loud Saville Centre crowd, the Pandas saved their best volleyball for last going on a 4-1 run, punctuated by a Laila Johnston block, to take the all-important first set 25-23. UBC's Borowski and Akash Grewal led all players with five kills in the frame, while Alberta got a team-high four from Johnston. 

The 'Birds regrouped in the second, hopping out to an 11-7 lead on the back of three service aces (of a phenomenal 15 on the day) and some more purposeful attacks. The Pandas kept it even par from there, seeing a great set from Abby Guezen, but the lead was too great from the Thunderbirds and the trio of Grewal, Borowski, and Kylee Glanville who combined for 12 kills in the frame.

Like Newton's Cradle, Alberta had a response in the early third with Ronnie Dickson leading the charge with three kills, an assist, and an ace in a 12-8 Pandas early lead. Grewal was at her best in the frame, recording a set-high seven kills and helping the 'Birds battle back to within a point multiple times, including a 23-22 deficit, but Abby Guezen and Johnston hit back-to-back hammers for a tight 25-23 set win.

As if there was any other way, it was UBC's turn to come out firing in the fourth, as they hopped out to a 14-5 lead early in the frame and forced both Alberta timeouts to be burnt as they sported a stellar .667 hitting percentage on the run. The lead would balloon from there, as Alberta worked out some serious lapses and the 'Birds were as lethal as ever. They would take the set 25-13 as they held the Pandas to just a .083 hitting percentage in easily the most dominant set of the day. UBC's Trinity Solecki would pace all players with five kills in the frame as we headed to the final frame.

The building could sense the enormity of the final set, and it did not disappoint. There were six tie scores and five lead changes in the shortened frame, which started UBC's way with a quick two points. Dickson played her finest game all day, as she recorded a couple of kills on a 4-1 Pandas run mid set that gave the Pandas a 13-11 lead. With the decibels rising, Alberta and UBC would inch forward to a 14-13 game, when Mackenzie Pool, solid all day for the hosts, would power one past the blockline to give Alberta its 12th gold.