Edmonton - With the #1 ranked Manitoba Bisons in town and Canada West playoff positioning on the line, Laurie Eisler and the #4 ranked University of Alberta Pandas volleyball team knew it would take a total team commitment if they were to pull off the upset win. Mission accomplished as the Pandas downed the Bisons in straight sets, 25-22, 25-23 and 25-23, Saturday afternoon in the U of A's Main Gym.

The loss is just second for Manitoba this season after they dropped a 3-2 decision at home in November to #2 UBC. Both the T-Birds and Bisons came into this weekend with identical 17-1 records as UBC traveled to Trinity Western to close out the regular season. The #7 Spartans, who trail Alberta by two points for fourth in Canada West, pulled an upset of their own as they downed the Thunderbirds also in straight sets, keeping everyone in their same position at the top of the Conference table. From the first to fifth, every spot is on the line this weekend as is the right to host because only the top four teams host a playoff date. Calgary, who is third in Canada West and two points up on the Pandas, is hosting Thompson Rivers University this weekend, defeating them Friday night to remain ahead of Alberta.

Eisler and the Pandas, who defeated Manitoba last season in the Canada West final en route to their seventh CIS title, played near mistake free volleyball against the Bisons this afternoon, committing just nine attack errors on the night and watching as the Bisons registered 16 errors on offence. Save for aces and blocks, the teams were almost identical across the board, but seven aces and 13 team blocks compared to four aces and six blocks from Manitoba spelled out the difference.

Meggie Moir, a transfer from Boston College, has made an impact since joining the active roster in November, picking up eight kills and three aces this afternoon in the win. The Cold Lake, Alberta native clinched the match for the Pandas in the third set when she rose at the net for an attack and instead of powering her way through the Bison block; she deftly poked the ball over the Manitoba hands and into an empty patch of court for the 25-23 win.

The third set was critical beyond the obvious reasons for Alberta as they playoff bound team rallied for a big comeback after spotting Manitoba a 7-1 lead in the early going. The Pandas roared back to 7-8 at the technical time-out and then slowly overtook the lead, thanks to a float ace from middle Samantha Wojtkiw, at 12-10 and never looked back.

Tiffany Proudfoot led the Alberta attack with 10 kills and a 35% efficiency rating. Jocelyn Blair powered nine past the Bisons, while Wojtkiw and fellow middle Alexa Berton chipped in eight and five respectively. Fifth year Libero Christine Biggs was a force defensively, bringing up 10 digs to lead Alberta.

Fifth year right side hitter, Amy Matthews, had a strong game as she picked up the game high in kills with 11, clipping along at a 50% attack rating. She also led the team in digs with eight as Manitoba brought up 36 digs in total, eight more than Alberta. The Bisons also got seven each from Sabrina Barnes and Sarah Morrissette.

The two top ten teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon, first serve is at 2:00 PM MST in the Main Gym for the final regular season game of the year.