Box Score WINNIPEG – Right in the thick of the Canada West conference playoff race, the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s volleyball team looked to complete the weekend series sweep over the visiting MacEwan University Griffins Saturday on the court of the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
In similar fashion to Friday, Manitoba needed only three sets to complete the sweep over MacEwan and earn their eighth win of the season to remain in a tie with the UBC Okanagan Heat for the final post-season berth.
Ella Gray led the way for the Herd in the victory, registering 10 kills, nine of which came in the third set. Gray was also named player of the game for Manitoba. Brenna Bedosky chipped in with eight kills of her own on a hitting percentage of 0.889 while second-year setter Katrina Bentley tallied 33 assists in the match.
With the win, Manitoba also remains undefeated at home so far in the 2022-23 Canada West season at 8-0, having lost just one set.
“Every team wants to take advantage of playing at home in terms of family, friends and the crowd support.,” said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley, speaking to Manitoba’s perfect record on home court. “Our goal is the play the same regardless of where we are and we have to be able to win on the road to make head way in the conference.”
Two kills from each from the Bisons’ Raya Surinx, Andi Almonte and Bedosky helped put their squad out to an early 11-3 lead in the game’s opening set. The hosts dominated the rest of the set with Bedosky leading the way in kills with five. Almonte’s fourth clinched the first for Manitoba, 25-11.
The Bisons found themselves with a sizable lead again in the second set, forcing a Griffins timeout after going up 15-7. Second-year Eve Catojo stepped up her game in the second for Manitoba putting up four blocks in the set. Later on, with the Bisons in full control as they looked to close out the frame, Almonte clinched a second-straight set for the Herd with her fifth kill of the game as the Bisons sealed the second 25-16.
In the third set, the hosts continued to display their dominance on attack, which came from a variety of players throughout the game. Gray added to her stats, as her Bison team remained in sync, registering nine kills while adding a dig and a pair of blocks. Mid way through what turned out to be the final set, Manitoba held an 18-8 lead as they looked to complete the three-set sweep for the second night in a row. On match point and up 24-13, a service error by MacEwan sealed the 3-0 victory for Manitoba.
Manitoba will return to their home court next weekend when they host the University of Alberta Pandas on January 13-14 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
“We will look at the film and create a game plan for Alberta that we think will be effective against them and make sure we keep taking care of our side,” added Bentley. “I expect that we will keep playing a high level of volleyball.”
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