As we get closer to the playoffs, the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) women’s volleyball continues to have heated battles during week eight of the 2022-23 regular season. Providence University College (PUC) Pilots swept both matches in a battle for second place and second year setter Amanda Bergen led the squad in a important home-and-home series for the week ending on Jan. 22, 2023.
To begin the weekend, the Bothwell, MB native notched 31 assists (tied for match high) along with seven digs and two kills in a four set home victory over Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Blazers on January 20. The next night, the Pilots went on the road and won a hard fought five setter comeback win against CMU and Bergen added 42 assists with 15 digs and three kills plus three total blocks.
“This was a big weekend for a few reasons but we most importantly, we needed to find some rhythm in our game. Amanda gave us a steady presence from the setting position and executed our game plan against CMU really well all weekend,” commented PUC’s head coach Kyle Guenther. “She had her best game of the season on Friday night setting up our offense well all night. On Saturday, she stepped up on the defensive side of the ball keeping plays alive all night and adding a few big time blocks at crucial times. When our serve receive was struggling, Amanda kept our offense going with her athleticism and smart play calling.”
Bergen is third in MCAC with 221 assists so far this campaign as PUC is now in second with a 7-5 conference record.
The Pilots and the Business Administration student-athlete play at first place Université de Saint-Boniface (USB) Les Rouges on the road on January 27-28.
MCAC Athlete of the Week winners for 2022-23 season
Week 1 (ending Sept. 11, 2022)
WSOC: Sara Boissonneault – USB
MSOC: Jordi Haskerkehrer – USB
Week 2 (ending Sept. 18, 2022)
WSOC: Kendra Mansoff – ACC
MSOC: Camilo Rodriguez – BU
Week 3 (ending Sept. 25, 2022)
WSOC: Tara Boulanger – USB
MSOC: Johnathan Kohan – BU
Week 4 (ending Oct. 2, 2022)
WSOC: Ava Temple – PUC
MSOC: Matheus Souza – BU
Week 5 (ending Oct. 9, 2022)
WSOC: Tiegan Kroeker – CMU
MSOC: Kevin Lopez – ACC
Week 6 (ending Oct. 16, 2022)
WSOC: Kalyna Démaré – USB
MSOC: Garreth Rayner – PUC
Week 7 (ending Oct. 23, 2022)
WSOC: Katie Moniot – USB
MSOC: Sean Kirkpatrick – PUC
Week 8 (ending Oct. 30, 2022)
WSOC: Marijka Yaschyshyn – USB
MSOC: Ayman Soussi – USB
Week 9 (ending Nov. 6, 2022)
WVB: Angéline Ritchot – USB
MVB: Vaughn Zimmer – ACC
Week 10 (ending Nov. 13, 2022)
WVB: Valeria Gonzalez – USB
MVB: Albert Francisco – CMU
Week 11 (ending Nov. 20, 2022)
WBB: Briana Ehrmantraut – CMU
MVB: Noah Boschman – PUC
Week 12 (ending Nov. 27, 2022)
WVB: Tyra Peters – PUC
MVB: Sebastian Verdaguer – PUC
Week 13 (ending Dec. 4, 2022)
WVB: Paige Wright – CMU
MVB: Cameron Gayleard – CMU
Week 14 (ending Jan. 15, 2023)
WVB: Layla Reichert – CMU
MBB: Daniel Cameron – CMU
Week 15 (ending Jan. 22, 2023)
WVB: Amanda Bergen – PUC
MFUT: Abdoul Niangadou – USB