Manitoba erases 2-0 deficit, stun Bears in Game 1

EDMONTON – Second-year Karil Dadash-Adeh finished with a team-high 18 kills to lead the Manitoba Bison in a thrilling 3-2 (19-25, 15-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-13) upset victory over the Alberta Golden Bears in Game 1 of the Canada West Quarterfinals Thursday night at the Saville Centre.

It was an incredible reverse sweep from the visitors, who finished 13-11 to sneak into the playoffs as the eighth and final seed. They were able to hold a conference-leading Alberta attack to a .231 hitting percentage over the contest, including a .165 mark over the final three frames.

Dadash-Adeh was flanked by third-year Spencer Grahame, who finished with 14 kills, and middle Jordon Heppner who had five kills, three aces, and three total blocks. Sammy Ludwig also added 33 assists and nine digs. 

“I’m just so proud of our guys. We are a young team, and we knew this game was going to be a challenge. We had a shaky start, but we really battled back, and showed we can compete with a team like Alberta,” said the Bisons setter. 

“We turned up the intensity to start the third set. We really cranked it up, and played like we had nothing to lose.” 

Isaac Heslinga was phenomenal for the Bears, finishing with a game-high 23 kills and single handedly kept the home side competitive at points in the latter stage of the game. Setter Sam Drybrough also showed out in Game 1, his 51 assists the most in the contest – and one assist away from his career high.

The Bears dominated the first two frames on the backs of Heslinga and second-year Jacob Sargeant who combined for 12 kills in what amounted to two Alberta set victories. They held the lead for all but one point, and were able to defensively find an answer to the two-headed attack of Dadash-Adeh and Grahame.

However, the tides changed in the third set when Manitoba dominated at the net, recording six blocks in the middle frame compared to Alberta’s two. Dadash-Adeh shone bright with three kills and three blocks to lead the Bisons to a 25-21 victory that changed the momentum for the visitors.

The fourth set was the most exciting of the day, an extra-points thriller culminating in a 26-24 Bisons win. It featured a remarkable 17 tie scores, and nine lead changes, but Dadash-Adeh was able to close the Bears out with two straight kills for the win.

The stage was set for an epic finale, and that is exactly what the Saville Centre crowd received in a 15-13 Manitoba win that saw Heslinga and Grahame duke it out on behalf of their squads. Heslinga recorded an astounding seven kills in the set, but was unable to lift the Bears over a deep Bisons attack that saw four starters record a kill in the shortened frame.

The teams return to action for Game 2 tomorrow night, first-serve coming at 7:00PM MST