The University of Regina's women's volleyball team closed out the first half of the Canada West schedule with a three-set loss to No. 1 Alberta on Saturday night at the Saville Centre in Edmonton.

The Pandas won the three sets by scores of 25-14, 25-18, and 25-18.

Meg Casault led Alberta (10-0) both offensively and defensively, leading the Pandas with 12 kills and tying for the team high with seven digs. Three players each had nine kills for Alberta, including Shauny Hogg, Karly Janssen, and Kacey Otto. Otto also matched Casault with seven digs, while setter Mariah Walsh piled up 41 assists in the win while controlling an Alberta offence that hit .371 as a team.

Kathleen Bruce (pictured) had eight kills to lead Regina, which falls to 0-10 with the loss. Libero Taylor Ungar had a match-high 10 digs.

The Cougars will now have the next three weekends off before heading right back to Edmonton for the New Year's Classic, a non-conference tournament hosted by the University of Alberta beginning Dec. 29. The U of R resumes Canada West play the following weekend at home with home matches against Mount Royal on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7.