CALGARY- The Mount Royal Cougars lost 3-1 (29-27, 25-17, 16-25, 25-16) to the Manitoba Bisons in four sets in women's volleyball on Saturday, January 10.
 

The first set really picked up at the end when the Bison' tied it at 24-24. A long rally started between both teams at 28-27 when the Bisons' Rachel Cockrell killed it right down the middle to give the Bisons' a 29-27 set victory.

The Bisons' continued in to the second set with power. Towards the end of the set they held a 21-16 lead. The Cougars threw in one last good kill by Fallon Middlemiss but the Bisons' took over with four more points taking the set and going up 2-0 in the match.

The third set remained consistently even and after 16 points the two sides were deadlocked at 8-8. The Cougars then picked up their feet bringing in a 6-point rally. Mount Royal never looked back and won their first set of the game 25-16.

Manitoba took over in the fourth. The Bisons' went up 15-6 early. The Cougars fought back slowly but the Bisons' were too much. Manitoba took the fourth and final set 25-16. 

The Bisons' Rachel Cockrell pulled in 19 kills and 13 digs with help from other teammate Jordana Mine who notched 14 kills and 6 digs. Fallon Middlemiss led the Cougars with 14 kills and 20 digs, with the help of Mikayla Fritzke with 11 kills and 13 digs.

With the loss, MRU falls to 3-15 while Manitoba now improves to 8-8.

The Cougars will have a bye next week before heading off to Thompson Rivers on Jan. 23. Manitoba will head home to host the University of Alberta Pandas on Jan. 16.