Box Score WINNIPEG, MB – It was a story of redemption as the University of Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball team claimed a straight-set victory (26-24, 26-24, 25-20) over the #1-ranked University of Alberta Pandas at the Investors Group Athletic Center on Saturday, January 17, after losing to the Pandas in three sets Friday night.
 
The Bisons are 9-9 with the win and hold on to the seventh and final playoff slot in the Canada West division. The Pandas fall to 14-4 with the loss that ended their six-game win streak.
 
"They're the top team in the country, so we had our work cut out for us," said Bison head coach Ken Bentley, "but we passed better, we served better. We were just better in every phase of the game than we were yesterday."
 
Bison captain Rachel Cockrell led both teams with 25 kills, almost double her total from Friday night's loss. Alberta's Meg Casault had 16, four more than on Friday.
 
Both teams started off strong, going point-for-point throughout the first set, until Manitoba's Jordana Milne earned the home side a single-point lead with her third kill of the set. The Bisons followed up with a service ace to take the set 26-24.
 
The close game continued in the second, as Manitoba again needed the extra point to win the hard-fought, back-and-forth set 26-24. Cockrell had nine kills in the set for the home side, while Casault put up five for Alberta.
 
The Bisons dominated the third set, taking an early 10-7 lead. The Pandas fought back, tying the game at 12 with a service ace from Casault, but couldn't gain the lead. Manitoba retaliated, scoring on three consecutive rallies and taking the set 25-20. 
 
Bentley said he's proud of how well the team responded to pull off the win.
 
"I think we have a lot of really good volleyball left to play," he said.
 
The Bisons play next on the road against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. CST. The Pandas are back home next week to take on the University of Regina Cougars on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. MST.