2014 CIS women's volleyball championship: Sunday, March 2 at University of Regina – #2 seed Manitoba vs. #1 seed UBC game report
Final Score: Manitoba 3 UBC 0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-20)
The #2 seed Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball team defeated the #1 seed and six-time, defending CIS Champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-20) sweep in their championship match on Sunday, March 2 at the 2014 CIS women's volleyball championship at Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport held at the University of Regina.
With the championship win, the Bisons have now earned their seventh CIS championship in the program's history and first since the 2001-02 season. The other times Manitoba have won a CIS Championship: 1970-71, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92, 2000-01, 2001-02.
The Bisons (regular season: 14-8 record; playoffs: 6-1) continued their dominance throughout the three day national championship event as they used their defence and passing to set-up a potent offence against a UBC team that were trying to win for an unprecedented seventh consecutive time.
As they did for the whole CIS Nationals, Manitoba was ready and prepared for UBC in the first set as it was close throughout with eight ties and five lead changes. At a 20-all tie, the Bisons pushed forward with three straight points on a kill by
Mariel Garcia into the block; stuff block by
Emily Erickson and
Rachel Cockrell and then another kill by Erickson before a UBC timeout. After two points by the past champs, Manitoba finished off the set with two aggressive kills by Cockrell after some tremendous defence to keep the point alive for a 25-22 win. Cockrell already had seven kills with
Taylor Pischke and libero
Caleigh Dobie with five digs each to set the defensive tone by the Herd.
In the second, the Bisons won the crucial set as UBC had lost the first set in the two previous matches at the year's CIS Nationals before running off three sets in a row to make the finals. Again, the set was tense with eight more ties and three lead changes but the defining moment was the final four points. At 21-20 for UBC, Manitoba shutout the T-Birds with a cross court kill by Cockrell then forcing an error by reigning CIS Player of the Year Lisa Barclay and then two more attack errors by Barclay because of blocks by Erickson and Cockrell and a 25-22 set win. Another six kills by Cockrell along with three blocks each by
Jordana Milne, Erickson, Cockrell and two more digs by Garcia.
In the final set, the Bisons rolled with the momentum of a 2-0 lead and never was behind after a 4-3 advantage for UBC by playing more stout defence that led to four consecutive points for a 7-4 lead. Anytime UBC wanted to make a push, Manitoba had an answer as UBC could only close the gap to two at 20-18. Manitoba stopped the run with two service aces by Garcia, cross court kills by Cockrell and Pischke finished the match with a kill down the sidelines for the Bisons first CIS WVB championship in 12 seasons!
Manitoba's Player of the Match was
Rachel Cockrell as she had a game-high 18 kills, five total blocks and 22 points in the three set sweep. Pischke added six kills, and six digs while Milne registered five kills, six total blocks and nine points. Erickson had six total blocks and two kills plus setter
Brittany Habing added 28 assists and six digs. Dobie contributed a game-high ten digs in the victory.
Cockrell enthused after the championship win, "This is so awesome to wear this gold medal around our necks. We executed our game plan and maintained our composure throughout the match. We were more discipline and more variation on offence with tipping and rolling. We remained focus and played our best match by far this season against UBC. This is amazing and best group to win this title with!"
With the match victory, the Bisons snapped a 18 game match streak (regular season and playoffs) against UBC that dated back to the 2007-08 season and a 10 game playoff streak against the T-Birds with the last time the Herd beat them was in the 2002 CIS championship semi-final – the last time Manitoba hoisted the CIS championship trophy.
The Bisons were also 2013-14 Canada West silver medallist and avenged a loss to UBC at the 2014 Canada West Championship in the last week of February.
The last time Manitoba appeared in the CIS Championship in 2010, they were a Canada West silver medallist and proceeded to win 3-0 vs. Toronto in quarterfinal match, then defeat Alberta 3-1 in the semifinal match and lose 3-1 to UBC in the gold medal match.
Players of the Match:
Rachel Cockrell – Manitoba
Kristy Setterlund – UBC
Stats Leaders
Rachel Cockrell – Manitoba with 18 kills
Lisa Barclay – UBC with 13 kills
Caleigh Dobie – Manitoba with 10 digs
Juliana Kaufmanis – UBC with 10 digs
Jordana Milne and Emily Erickson – Manitoba with six total block
Mariah Bruinsma – UBC with five total blocks
Brittany Habing – Manitoba with 28 assists
Kristy Setterlund – UBC with 27 assists
CIS WVB Championship MVP – Rachel Cockrell, Manitoba
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award – Katherine Ryan, Dalhousie
2014 CIS WVB Championship All-Star Team
Lisa Barclay, UBC
Rachel Cockrell, Manitoba
Esther Gilbert, Laval
Brittany Habing, Manitoba
Abbey Keeping, UBC
Desiree Nouwen, Dalhousie
Taylor Pischke, Manitoba
BISON CIS WVB CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES: In 20 CIS WVB Championship appearances since 1981, Manitoba has played 59 matches and holds a 43-16 record (72.9% win percentage). The Bisons, Canada West silver medalist, won 14 out 17 matches since the start of the second half of the 2013-14 season. This is the first time Manitoba did not lose a set while winning a CIS Championship (9-0 in sets this year). Manitoba now tied with Winnipeg and Alberta for second place all-time for CIS WVB championship titles with seven, three behind UBC.
In addition, Manitoba adds to its medal count at the CIS WVB Championship – Bisons now in history: SEVEN CIS CHAMPIONSHIPS (1970-71, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2013-14); 6 SILVER MEDALS (1980-81, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1997-98, 1999-00, 2009-10); 4 BRONZE MEDALS (1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1998-99).
