Written by: Crystal Laderas

The No. 10 ranked Manitoba Bisons women’s volleyball team defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, February 10, at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The Bisons team won in four sets (25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 25-15) against the unranked Huskies. 

Manitoba were in complete control the first two sets, but a Huskies win in the third set forced them to adjust to Saskatchewan’s tips and rolls to help finish the game. With the win, Manitoba clinches a Canada West playoff spot with a 10-9 record, while Saskatchewan drops to 0-19 so far this conference season.

Manitoba prepared for Saskatchewan’s dumps and free balls directed at Bisons setter Christina Souza. But Souza was given a few chances to swing quick left-handed hits from the setting position and helping the team total seven aces from the serving line. Left side Kristi Hunter and middle player Tricia Mayba led the team in kills, but it was their big plays on the right side that hit the floor without a even a touch by Huskies arms. 

Bisons coach Ken Bentley said they shouldn’t of lost the third set, but the everyone played fine.

“It’s just a tough time of the year, a tough time to play. You got to get out of your own way a little bit more, but it’s fine,” he said. “A few balls were going to hit the floor regardless. You give something up, you’re going to get something somewhere else, no defense is perfect. It’s just like in any sport.”

Candice Huesser and Laura Beadle were able to get the defense working in the front row. They stalled the Bison win in the second set with a few stuff blocks that even a raucous, face-painted, home crowd enjoyed. When Beadle stuffed the Bisons Danika Picklyk, a heckler yelled through his megaphone, “Okay, we’ll give you that. That was pretty nice.” Her blocks held off the Bisons in the third set and she totaled seven for the game. 

Huskie setter Erin Foster wasn’t given much of a chance to do her job. The Saskatchewan defense couldn’t usually get a descent pass up, which were favours to a swinging Hunter or towering middle players Mayba and Emily Erickson. It was the Huskie blockers that managed to keep the game competitive, leading the way for the rest of the team, but still not enough to win the game.

The two teams meet again for the final conference regular season match of the 2011-12 season on Saturday, February 11 at 6 p.m. CT at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.