This weekend, Manitoba will face Mount Royal with a spot at nationals on the line. The Herd are looking to return to the big dance for the first time since 2014. Here’s how they got there.
Women’s volleyball head coach Ken Bentley has “been in the gig” almost 40 years. During that span, the six-time national champion has mentored countless players, including numerous U SPORTS Athletes of the Year. He’s been a multiple-time national coach of the year and even served as an assistant coach with the Canadian Women’s Olympic Team.
On January 15, 2015, he became the first women’s volleyball coach in Canadian university volleyball history to reach 1,000 wins, and this year, on February 4th against cross-town rival Winnipeg, he achieved win number 1100.
The purpose of this preamble was to remind readers that Bentley has seen a lot of stuff at the university level and beyond. He’s been in countless memorable games with all kinds of stellar athletes, the proof of which is contained in boxes he holds dear in his office, and pictures that are mounted proudly on the wall.
He can still remember vividly the memories of games won and lost. But win number 1100 hit differently for Bentley. Not one for tears, he couldn’t contain himself after a 3-0 win over the Wesmen at home that February evening.
Part of his emotion was rooted in the question that was asked.
“What does it say about this group? That you won it with this group?”
“I love this group,” he says. “Even those I haven’t known a long time. They’re just such a good group to coach. It’s just so enjoyable every day.”
Manitoba’s 2022-23 roster is a group of go-getters. Whether it’s the core athletes that Bentley has known since they were in elementary school, or those who’ve signed from elsewhere, it’s a team that practices with intensity, and reflects that attitude in-game.
‘I will do anything for a point’
It starts with their leadership group. Second-year setter Katreena Bentley is Ken’s daughter. She’s been in the gym with him more than anyone else, and she adopted an all-in mindset very early on.
As a kid in 2007-08, Katreena can be seen in the roster’s group photo, smiling ear to ear beside her dad in a Bisons hockey jersey. That passion for the game has never left her.
“She has probably been in more game film than most of my varsity players,” Ken lightheartedly noted of Katreena in a 2018 interview shortly after her signing. “But she has earned this on her own right. Her passion for this game is like any other kid who loves volleyball. She’s worked really hard to earn what she’s received.”
Katreena has been a part of her dad’s teams ever since she was in a car seat, and over the years has grown into one of the best volleyball players in the province.
Her Collège Jeanne-Sauvé teams, which also included current libero and best friend Julia Arnold, were three-time provincial champions. Additionally, her Junior Bisons teams that also featured Arnold, captain Light Uchechukwu and alum Jordan Hamm, won at every level, with provincial championships at the 15U, 16U and 17U levels, and a national championship at the 17U level.
Bentley was an All-Rookie member last season, and this year yet again, the offence ran through her. She led Canada West with 10.11 assists per set and she also had 165 digs.
What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, is Bentley’s toughness and grit. For most of the season, she could be seen with tape all up her quad, as she endured the highs and the lows put on the body during an intense season.
Not once did she relent. She led by example, putting her body on the line even when she wasn’t 100 percent. It’s that work ethic that’s a microcosm for this group. Even when their backs were against the wall, they didn’t stop competing.
“If you’re playing with fear, you’re not playing the right way,” Bentley said shortly after a 3-0 sweep of MacEwan in early January. “I will do anything for a point.”
‘Light work’
Arnold will also do anything for a point. A nonstop competitor, there are few people out there who hate losing more than her.
The third-year was second in Canada West with 361 digs, and suffice to say, she likes a challenge.
And it’s a challenge that she and her teammates got in the pre-season.
They played in 13 tune-up games from September 23 all the way to October 8th, going 12-1 while losing just nine sets.
Perhaps their biggest test came on a trip to Quebec, where they faced off against stiff tests in Sherbrooke and Montreal to round out their schedule. The squad played in four games over the span of three days, including two in the same day to end off the gruelling trip (Montreal at 10 am, Sherbrooke at 6 pm).
Teams in the RSEQ are notorious for their defensive abilities, and have a knack for digging balls they have no business getting to. The Bisons saw this all weekend long, but they also gave it back.
It was the type of competition they needed in order to prepare for the grueling days that were going to come later in the year, as the squad aimed for a deep playoff run.
“I think it was important for this team that we have right now, just coming off of last year and finding our feet this year, especially with [Rookie of the Year] Raya [Surinx] in the lineup and newer people in the lineup, but also just to get ready for the workload that’s going to come, because last year we didn’t have a full season,” added Arnold.
“Ken’s goal was oh my god, you guys are going to be so tired when pre-season is done, but you only have two games a weekend. Light work.”
And thus, when the dog days rolled around at the end of the regular season, Arnold and company were prepared.
Two specific matches stand out, helping Manitoba to a pair of critical victories that later cemented their spot in the playoffs.
The first was a January 21 tilt on the road against Saskatchewan, a team that was hot on the Bisons’ tails at the time in the standings.
Saskatchewan led 22-16 in the third, and with the game tied one set each, they were looking to secure momentum. The Herd had other ideas.
With middle Eve Catojo (whose intensity is palpable in every game) at the service line, Manitoba scored six straight points, and nine of the last ten to steal the set and eventually the game. Surinx had four kills down the stretch, including the set-winner.
Then, a week later, Bentley earned win 1100 in a very similar situation.
Manitoba showed all kinds of heart, digging the ball relentlessly to keep countless rallies alive. Four different players had at least ten digs, led by Arndold’s 20. Offensively, Ella Gray and Surinx combined for 27 kills, proving to be unstoppable at times, especially when going cross-court.
The game’s key moment occurred in the second set. Down by four at 19-15, Bentley subbed in Uchechukwu, who helped to drastically alter the momentum of not only the set, but the rest of the game.
Uchechukwu, who Bentley has known through the Junior Bisons Volleyball Club for the vast majority of her life, finished the set with two kills and also set up the middle attack with multiple digs from the back row, recording three in total.
“We did it against Saskatchewan, we were down 22-16 and just hung in there. Light went in and won the set for us,” added Bentley. “She was the difference to turn things around. She was amazing. On the spot, she had to go in there and be a leader and play great volleyball and she did that.”
‘I’m her biggest fan’
Uchechukwu’s selflessness this season is one of many reasons she’s looked upon as the team’s captain. There have been games this year where she’s been asked to do a lot, others where she’s been the team’s biggest fan, and then contests like Winnipeg when she comes in cold and just flat out dominates.
Her willingness to do whatever it takes for her team is a message others can learn from. You don’t always have to be the all-star every game. When you buy in, go all-out for your teammates and trust the process, the rest will come.
It helps having teammates like Ella Gray, Andi Almonte, Surinx, Catojo, Brenna Bedosky, Kendra Andjelic, Chelsea Siebenga and many others for support. Every player on the 16-person roster has had a role in Manitoba’s run to the Canada West semi-finals.
For Gray and Uchechukwu, the relationship is enhanced. They play the same position at right side and have a healthy competition, but it’s still all love. Their performance has also done the talking, with a combined 272 digs and 353 kills.
They versatility is also what makes them succeed.
Uchechukwu is a “sophisticated player” who can thrive in all six positions and this summer trained with Team Canada’s NextGen squad. Gray “can hit the ball so hard,” and is calmer as a sophomore. She’s seeing things quicker and no moment has not been too big.
“The fact that we’re playing the same position going in and out, you’d think there would be some tension, but there truly isn’t. If I’m on, she’s my biggest fan, if she’s on, I’m her biggest fan,” commented Uchechukwu with her trademark smile.
“Ella is so sick, so it makes you want to be better too. It’s a healthy competition that’s brought the best of both of us,” noted Uchechukwu.
“I love and appreciate Light so much. She brings such great energy and kindness and calmness,” added Gray. “I can always go to her. On the court, she’s someone who is a breath of fresh air. She brings so much to this team.”
‘I can lean on them for anything’
And that brings us to last weekend, where the No. 6 seed Herd traveled to BC, upsetting the No. 3 seed Thunderbirds in two games.
Both games were a grind, but the team’s preparation, in the summer, pre-season and regular season, had them ready for anything.
On the Friday, they got 21 kills from Surinx, who led the squad with 327 on the year. Five players also had at least ten digs, led by Arnold’s 29 as Manitoba grinded out a 3-2 win.
The following evening they won in four, with the third set being key. The hosts led 6-1 early and 10-5 later on, but Manitoba didn’t relent. Down 15-13 they scored five points in a row and didn’t trail the rest of the way.
Surinx added another 23 kills, which Bedosky, Catojo, Almonte and Gray all had at least four.
In summary, it took a team effort to get the win last weekend, much like it has all year for a group that flat out trusts each other. Three different players had at least ten digs, with fundamental defence leading to a balanced offence.
“Everyone on this team is really good friends of mine. I can trust all of them,” said Almonte, one of the team’s most accurate attackers, who added eight digs last Saturday and had 160 on the year.
“I can lean on them for anything, even outside of volleyball. For school and for life, I can lean on them and tell them anything, and I know they would help me.”