In the end it was a stellar serving run by Mariah Bruinsma and a huge effort on the block that made the difference for UBC. After falling behind 7-3 in the fifth, Bruinsma stepped up to the service line and led the 'Birds on a 7-0 run that included two aces and three UBC blocks – two of which Bruinsma assisted on.

The six-time defending national champion T-Birds haven't been pushed at home like that in the regular season very often in recent years. In fact it was the first time they've gone to five sets at War Memorial in a regular season game since another 3-2 victory over Manitoba back on January 23, 2009.

Both teams had some peaks and valleys in their performance on Friday, with the first set being the only really tightly contested one until the fifth. The Bisons looked to be in control of the first, up 19-15, but the 'Birds fought back and eventually took the lead 23-21 after another great job at the service line by Bruinsma to take them on a 5-0 run.

After UBC lost 25-15 in the fourth, and then fell behind 6-1 in the fifth, it looked like another long regular season home court streak might fall. The 'Birds haven't lost a regular season home game since a 3-1 defeat against Trinity Western on October 30, 2010.

But the big serving and blocking turnaround in the fifth, coupled with the one-two punch of Lisa Barclay and Rosie Schlagintweit on the outside, was too much for the Bisons to deal with in the end. UBC outblocked Manitoba 17-12 with 10 aces. Schlagintweit led all players with 19 kills, and Barclay had 18.

Taylor Pischke led the Bisons with 18 kills on .309 hitting, adding 1-0 digs. Rachel Cockrell had 11 kills, four aces, one solo block and five block assists.

The T-Birds improve to 3-0, while Manitoba falls to 2-1 on the year. These teams get back at it on Saturday to wrap up the series. That match starts at 5 p.m.