This week, the University of Alberta’s Pandas team that won six straight national championships between 1995 and 2000 was celebrated with a spot on the U of A Wall of Fame.

Six straight titles, and a record of 212-36 during that six-year run. That’s pretty incredible, considering that prior to that time a Pandas team hadn’t even had a shot at a National Championship before. Has there been another team that has been so dominant in volleyball in recent memory? Possibly, but I can’t think of one right now. So it’s fitting that this team is the first of two teams to be enshrined on Alberta’s Wall of Fame.

There were a lot of great players on those teams. Pribylova. Buckmaster. Cartmell. Lansdown. Torgerson.

There are a couple of articles in the Edmonton Sun recalling those heady days. The first one talks about the Wall of Fame ceremony. A second one recalls the ‘96-’97 team, in which star Marka Pribylova suffered a knee injury which she played through, and head coach Laurie Eisler was pregnant all season, giving birth on the morning of the quarterfinal match of Nationals.

I used to complain about schools who have separate team names and logos, one for the men and another, probably more girly and cute one for the women. Alberta is one of those schools, with the Golden Bears and the Pandas. But with a history such as this, in which teams have been so dominant and made such an impact on sports, it would be tough to argue for changing the names. This group of athletes started a tradition of great volleyball that many fans in this country remember. Kids coming up know the Pandas, and dream of playing for the Pandas.

The Pandas, particularly this group, have become part of Canadian volleyball history. And no doubt, the Pandas will be synonymous with volleyball excellence for years to come.