The No. 4 ranked University of Alberta Pandas opened up weekend play with a hard fought 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20) victory over the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Friday evening at the Dr. David F. Anderson Gymnasium in Winnipeg.

With the victory the Pandas improve their regular season record to 19-4. Winnipeg with the loss falls to 8-15 in the Canada West Women's Volleyball Conference standings.

Meg Casault led the Pandas with 20 kills. Kacey Otto added 16 kills and 13 digs. Karly Janssen finished with 12 kills.

Fourth year outside hitter Ozana Nikolic led the Wesmen attack with 20 kills. Mackenzie Jeffrey followed with 12 kills, while adding three blocks.

The opening set was dead even in the beginning with both teams exchanging points to 10-10. Alberta reeled off three straight points forcing the Wesmen to call a timeout with the score 13-10 for the Pandas. Alberta went into the technical timeout leading 16-13 and eventually went on to win the opening set 25-17.

In the second set both teams continued their battle matching each other point for point, until the Pandas opened up a 10-7 margin. Winnipeg did not buckle and with Tia Boroski on the service line reeled off four straight points to take a 11-10 lead. Alberta led 16-14 at the technical break but Winnipeg continued to push, led by the power of Nikolic down the stretch to win the set 25-23.

The Pandas were able to to regroup for the remainder of the match taking a close third set 25-22 and eventually ending the match in the fourth set by a 25-20 margin.

The two teams will wrap up their respective regular season schedules on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in the weekend series finale.