The #4 Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball team were defeated by the #5 Trinity Western Spartans by a score of 3-2 (23-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-21, 20-18) in their second game of the weekend on Saturday, November 30 at Investors Group Athletic Centre (U of Manitoba campus).

In the nail-biting five set match, the visitors had three players with double digits in kills led by Sophie Carpentier with 22 kills followed by Royal Richardson and Alicia Perrin, who had 19 and 18 kills respectively and the Spartans finished the game with 21 team blocks. On the home side, Rachel Cockrell had a big game with 21 kills, 13 digs, and one ace. Taylor Pischke and Crystal Mulder each had 11 kills, and Jordana Milne finished the game with 10 kills for the Bisons.

After the win, Trinity Western improves to 8-4 while Manitoba dropped to 6-6 in the Canada West regular season standings.

TWU's strong defense was once again in full effect in the fifth set as the Bisons found themselves locked up in another tight contest. A slight delay after a controversial call seemed to swing the momentum in the Bisons' favor but the Spartans continued to lead 14-11 and looked ready to complete the comeback. But backed by a rollicking Investors Group Athletic Centre the Bisons held on to force the set into extra points. Both teams continued trading points until Royal Richardson blocked an attack by Jordana Milne to win the deciding set and the match.

"It took a lot of heart from my team," said Trinity Western Head Coach Ryan Hofer. "Manitoba's a great team, so to be able to here in their home gym, I thought my girls showed a lot of courage."

The first set was mostly controlled by the Bisons who led by as much as seven before the Spartans chipped away at the Bison lead to tie it up at 22.  TWU appeared ready to steal the first set before the Bisons closed out the first set with a win after an impressive Jordana Milne service ace.

Neither team in the second set was able to get any separation until after the technical timeout when the Spartans took a five point lead. But the Bisons fought back and held on to win 27-25 after Rachel Cockrell had Manitoba's second set-ending service ace.

In the third set, the Bisons tried to slow down the surging Spartans as they clawed their way back to a 22-20 deficit before TWU shut them out the rest of the way to win the third set 25-20.

Manitoba faced some tough defense against TWU's strong blocks early on in the fourth set but managed to keep the set tight before showing some great defense of their own and tying the game up at 19. But the Spartans were determined to take the game to a fifth and final set and did so when Royal Richardson capped off an exciting rally with a TWU kill.

The Bisons will take their winter break before travelling to Calgary to play the Dinos on January 10, 2014. The Spartans will also take their winter break before hosting Mount Royal on January 10.