CALGARY- The Mount Royal Cougars lost 3-2 (28-26, 13-25, 27-25, 19-25, 12-15) to the #9 Manitoba Bisons in five sets in men's volleyball on Saturday, January 10.

Jordan Parkin led the team with 21 kills and 10 digs, while Lachie Pollock added 15 kills and 8 digs for the Cougars.

The first set was a real grudge match as both teams got to 26 points. After the Bisons went up 27-26, Adam DeJonckheere killed it through the middle giving the Bisons a 28-26 set win.

The second started off slow with neither team budging an inch. Shortly after being tied 8-8 MRU took two great rallies that saw them jump out in control of the match. The Cougars dominated the set winning 25-13 and squaring the match 1-1.

The third set was remiscent of the first set. The Bisons and Cougars were at a stalemate most of the set until they got to 24-24. With one solid kill by Bison's Adam DeJonckheere and one dig that went the opposite way by Cougars Tyler Schmidt the Bisons found themselves victorious and took a 2-1 set lead.

Mount Royal had too much fight in them on this night to roll over in the fourth. After storming out to an early lead the Cougars never looked back winning the fourth set 25-19 and sending the match to a fifth and deciding set.

The Bisons came in with a quick five-point rally to go up 7-2 early. The Cougars clawed back to tie the score 11-11 but Manitoba proved to be just too much on this night. The Bisons won the final set 15-12 and the match 3-2.

The Cougars will have a bye next week before facing Thompson Rivers University on Jan 23 at 2:45 p.m. Manitoba will head back home to face the University of Alberta Golden Bears on Jan 16.