WINNIPEG, MB – Ten different players had at least five kills in a versatile showing between No. 3 nationally ranked Manitoba and Saskatchewan on Saturday night at IGAC. The Bisons, paced by a record-setting night from setter Katreena Bentley, emerged with the 3-1 win (25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-11).
Bentley recorded assists, setting a new Canada West record along the way, with 983. The Huskies were led by 31 assists from Tielle Hagel and 14 kills from Olivia Mattern.
The victory improved the Bisons’ record to 20-4. They will be the No. 2 seed in the Canada West playoffs and will host quarterfinals beginning on Friday at 7 pm. The Huskies were eliminated from post-season contention with the loss.
The two teams combined for 12 assisted blocks in the first set, led by two each from Jessica Bergstrom from Sask and Light Uchechukwu from Manitoba.
Both sides also had two aces and combined for 42 digs. In a tight battle, it came down to passing, where Bentley – averaging a CanWest high 10.87 assists per set – dished out 14, helping the Herd secure a five-point set win.
Bentley recorded assists to five different players within Manitoba’s first 14 points, and she set a single-season Canada West and U SPORTS record with her 943rd assist on the year on a back set to Andi Almonte which made the score 10-4 at the time.
Mattern recorded four kills in the second and just one error for Sask, but as a team the Huskies hit .000 compared to .269 for Manitoba.
Bentley added nine more assists, while libero Julia Arnold kept countless rallies alive with five digs. She had ten after two, while Manitoba recorded 36 total after two, winning the set by eight.
The Huskies hit .424 in the third set, keeping the match alive with a 25-23 win.
Mattern doubled up her kills total, blasting numerous passes home from the right side, and she added an assisted block as well. Hagel spread the ball around well, notching ten assists and 26 overall through three, with five different players tallying at least five kills in the match.
The Bisons doubled up the Huskies early and commanded an eight point lead throughout the fourth set, taking things home with a double-digit win.
Bentley added nine assists, while Uchechukwu, Ella Gray and Eve Catojo all hit above .350 overall in the match.