WVB: Bisons sweep Wolfpack in three-straight sets for first win of the season

WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons women’s volleyball team welcomed the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack for the first of a two-game weekend set on Saturday afternoon in Winnipeg. Playing on the court of the Investors Group Athletic Centre, the Manitoba Bisons captured their first win of the season defeating the Wolfpack in three-straight sets (25-14, 25-18, 25-11) with third-year outside hitter Light Uchechukwu leading her Bison squad with 12 kills on 24 total attacks for a .375 hitting percentage in the game. 
 
“I thought our team did a really good job in the serve and receive game tonight,” said Bison Head Coach Ken Bentley, whose team had 11 service aces in the victory. “I also loved how we played defense and the intensity in our defensive game. That will be a strength of this team, good defensive teams are hard working teams.”
 
Following their 13-1 preseason record, the Herd opened their Canada West season against conference juggernauts the Trinity Western Spartans last weekend where they dropped back-to-back matches. 
 
“The first game last weekend against Trinity was not representative of what this team is about,” explained Bentley. “I wasn’t worried at all but that is not to say we weren’t disappointed with both losses last week. The game you saw today was more like what we saw the second night against the Spartans, a game we could have easily one two of the three sets we played.”
 
The two sides battled to an early 5-5 tie to begin the first set. The Wolpack proceeded to go on a 6-2 run to grab an 11-7 lead, but the Bisons responded and fought back to tie it up at 12-12 before a block from second-year Brenna Bedosky gave Manitoba their first lead of the opening set. The Bedosky block was the start of a 12-2 run for the hosts who grabbed a commanding 24-14 advantage before a Bedosky service ace sealed the set one point later for Manitoba. 
 
The Bisons picked right where they left off to begin the second set, jumping out to an early 11-6 lead. Second-year Eve Catojo and first-year Raya Surinx each contributed two kills as Manitoba took the five point advantage to start. A lead that the Herd maintained for the reminder of the set until eventually claiming the second frame, 25-18, on a service ace for the second-straight set, this time from Light Uchechuku. 
 
Manitoba continued their dominance in the third set as they looked to sweep the first game of the weekend against the visiting Wolfpack. Up 18-9, the Bisons’ Bedosky and Uchechuku got up to block the Thompson River attack, which was followed by a net violation by the visitors. With Manitoba up 20-9 and a firm grasp around the third set and the match, the herd went out to secure their first win of the season 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-11)
 
“Historically, the second night is always harder,” Bentley added. “If we are going to make any progress in this conference you can’t live on splits, you’ve to be able to win back-to-back matches. I believe we have a team that can do that. I expect a tough contest against Thompson Rivers tomorrow.”
 
Both teams will be back at Investors Group Athletic Centre tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. for the final game of the weekend.