WVB: Led by 34 assists from Bentley, Bisons sweep MRU 3-0

The No. 9 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons hit .359 as a team while committing just nine errors in a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-19, 25-21) of Mount Royal on Friday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre. 
 
CanWest kills leader Raya Surinx added 18, while setter Katreena Bentley – leading CanWest with ten assists per set – dished out 38. Overall, the Herd hit .359. Mount Royal was led by Bronwynn Davies-Neira, who had six kills and two aces. 
 
Manitoba led 4-0 in the first and didn’t trail at any point. Bentley added two service aces, while Manitoba had ten assisted blocks, four of which came in the first ten points. Five different Cougars had at least one kill, but Surinx led the way with eight, halting any MRU run. 
 
The second set was back and forth. The Cougars led 4-2 and 11-10, the latter of which was aided by Davies-Neira’s two aces. But a 4-1 swing with the score tied at 11 gave the Herd momentum, and they didn’t trail the rest of the way. 
 
Bentley had key assists to Brenna Bedosky, Andi Almonte and Light Uchechukwu during the run, with the trio combining for 20 kills, while none hit worse than .273. 
 
“I think that really speaks to the toolbox we have, which is obviously extensive,” noted Bentley on Manitoba’s depth. “Our ability to pick each other up when someone else is struggling, everyone else is there to do their own job and help out when help is needed all the time.”
 
The Cougars led 11-10 again in the third, but once again Manitoba went on a run, this time 6-4, and didn’t relinquish the lead. 
 
A shoot set from Bentley to Uchechukwu on a dig from Bedosky, along with four points in a row from Surinx with the score 18-14 shut the door on any MRU comeback.
 
The win is the third in a row for the Bisons, who improved to 5-2, while MRU fell to 1-6. 
 
Manitoba is now 14-2 at home dating back to last season. 
 
“We’ve built a really strong fan base around our team,” added Bentley. “We have a lot of supporters – obviously our families but through club programs and kids that we coach and are surrounded by, and I think that shows in our at-home play for sure.”
 
Both teams play again tomorrow at 5 pm.