The Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball team, the defending CIS champion and conference pre-season coaches' pool ranked fifth this season, is proud to announce the team co-captains for the 2014-15 season. Right side hitter Rachel Cockrell and setter Brittany Habing (pronounced: Hay-bing) are captains for the Bison women's volleyball team for the upcoming season.
Cockrell is a team captain for the third consecutive season while Habing is a captain for the first time at Manitoba.
Bison women's volleyball head coach Ken Bentley, in his 29th season, said, "These two players are extremely hard working and respected by teammates and the coaching staff. They have shown dedication to the program and the university and are leaders on and off the court."
Cockrell, 22, is in her fourth year of eligibility with the Bisons. In her third season, Cockrell finished it with style as she was named the CIS women's volleyball championship MVP after Manitoba swept all three matches en route to the 2013-14 CIS national championship title. In the three CIS champ matches, the 5'10" hitter slammed 43 kills (.320 hitting percentage), ten digs, eight total blocks and 49.5 points while starting and playing all nine sets. In 2013-14 Canada West stats, the Winnipeg native was fifth in conference kills at 3.64 per set (273 kills/75 sets) and fifth in points at 4.33 per set (325.0/75). Cockrell was also named as a 2012-13 CIS Second Team All-Canadian plus 2012-13 Canada West First Team All-Star and 2010-11 CIS All-Rookie Team.
Habing, 22, is in her fourth year of eligibility and second season with the Bisons. In he first season with the Bisons in 2013-14, the 5'8" setter earned Canada West Second Team All-Star recognition. She was first in CIS and Canada West in assists per set at 10.46 (79 sets/826 assists). In addition, the East St. Paul, MB native added 172 digs (third on the team), 64 kills, 13 service aces and 57 total blocks while playing in 79 of 81 regular season sets for Manitoba. Habing was also named to the CIS women's volleyball championship All-Star Team.
The 2014-15 conference season opens for the Bisons with a banner raising for last season's CIS championship at home versus Calgary at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, October 9.
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2014-15 Bison Women's Volleyball Canada West Preview
General Info
Team: Manitoba Bisons Name of Venue: Investors Group Athletic Centre
Head coach: Ken Bentley/29th year Conference: Canada West
Quick Facts
2014 Canada West Pre-season coaches' poll rank: #5
2013-14 Canada West Standings finish: 14-8, 4th place overall in Canada West
2014 Canada West Playoff: 3-1, Won Canada West Quarter Final best-of-three series vs. Alberta at home by two games to none; At Canada West Final Four, defeated Trinity Western 3-0 in semi and lost 3-0 to UBC in gold medal match
2014 CIS Nationals Placing: 3-0, Seeded number two at CIS Nationals. Won 3-0 over Ottawa in first match; won 3-0 over Dalhousie in semi-final and won CIS Championship with 3-0 win over #1 seed and six-time defending champ UBC in championship final
Last Canada West Title: 1970-71 season
Last CIS Title: 2013-14 season
Key returnees: Rachel Cockrell, Brittany Habing, Jordana Mine, Caleigh Dobie, Sarah Klassen
Key additions: Kalena Schulz, Lexi Janovcik
Key departures: Taylor Pischke, Crystal Mulder, Emily Erickson, Mariel Garcia
2014-15 Preview: What do you do for an encore?
The Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball team made a historic run through the 2014 CIS Women's Volleyball Championship as they swept all three matches en route to the national championship – they were the first ever team to go a perfect 9-0 in sets at a CIS Championship in the rally point era, which begun in the 1999-00 season.
As they say in sports, winning a championship is difficult, defending it is in even harder. The Bisons look to accomplish the feat (the Herd last went back-to-back CIS titles in 2000-01 and 2001-02 season) with a experienced core group but also have added new players that will find the court as several players did not return this season, including 2013-14 Canada West Second Team All-Star Taylor Pischke, following the championship title.
Co-captains and right side hitter Rachel Cockrell plus setter Brittany Habing lead Manitoba this season. Both were instrumental in last season's CIS championship as Cockrell, now in her fourth year, was named CIS championship MVP. Habing, also fourth year, was selected to CIS championship All-Star team and also 2013-14 Canada West Second Team All-Star. In addition, fourth year middle blocker Jordana Milne, third year middle Sarah Klassen and third year libero Caleigh Dobie all are back as starters from last year's winning squad.
Head coach Ken Bentley, in his 29th season at Manitoba, talked about the challenge for the veteran players to take on a bigger load with the change to the lineup and that more will be asked of the starters in 2014-15. Bentley will reach a career milestone as he is less than ten overall wins from a 1,000 in his CIS coaching career.
There are a couple newcomers that should make an immediate impact in their rookie campaign. Left side Kalena Schulz was a national all-star award winner while team captain as part of the 18U national and provincial championship Cobras Volleyball Club in 2014 and provincial club volleyball all-star with 17U and 18U Cobras. Left side Lexi Janovcik was also a national all-star award winner while part of the 18U national and provincial championship Cobras Volleyball Club in 2014 and high school all-star.
Bentley feels the biggest challenge is to bring the first year players up to speed as quickly as possible during the ultra competitive Canada West conference.
Manitoba will get the best matches from their opponents by being the defending champs. Bentley believes the team is ready to play well and battle for a top conference playoff spot, get into the Final 4 with the ultimate goal is to try and return to the CIS championship and have the opportunity to defend this season.
