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LVB-Rachel Cockrell Bisons MVP
Jeff Miller - Bison Sports

Women's Volleyball Written by: Danielle Doiron

Bisons sweep the Wesmen in three sets in women's volleyball

Manitoba holds on to last playoff spot with victory in the 24th annual Duckworth Challenge

Box Score WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons, in women's volleyball, beat their hometown rivals, the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, in three straight sets (25-15, 25-18, 25-22) in front of a packed house at Investors Group Athletic Centre for the volleyball portion of the 24th annual Duckworth Challenge on Thursday, January 29.
 
With their third-straight win, Manitoba holds on to the seventh and final conference playoff spot with an 11-10 Canada West record. Winnipeg extended their losing streak to two games and now sits at ninth overall with an 8-13 record.
 
Bison co-captain Rachel Cockrell led both teams with 19 kills, while setter Ellina Domnidou had a team-high 13 digs and 25 assists for the Wesmen in the losing effort.
 
"There's always an added bit of electricity to these matches," said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley. "It was a fantastic crowd and a great playing atmosphere. It's great for volleyball in this city and it brings that level of intensity up."
 
The rivalry game was intense from the opening serve. The teams battled, going point for point until the Bisons broke ahead and scored on three straight kills to take a 16-12 advantage at the technical timeout. Manitoba stretched this lead to ten by winning four consecutive rallies to take the set 25-15.
 
The second set started just like the first. The teams went back and forth until Bison middle Jordana Milne scored on a kill to set off four straight rally wins for Manitoba. Cockrell had eight kills in the set to help the Bisons claim the second with a score of 25-18.
 
Momentum shifted in the third, when the Wesmen scored three straight points midway through the set to take a 14-11 lead. Manitoba fought back with strong blocks from Milne to win back the serve. From there, the Bisons took back control of the game as Milne scored on consecutive service aces and Manitoba scored on three straight kills. The home side took the set victory 25-22 and the game 3-0.
 
"I thought we were very steady in our play and we held firm in the third set," Bentley said. "Winnipeg was giving us a great push there and I felt we held them back and we were able to get a really big win for us."
 
The teams face off again at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre at 1 p.m. CST on Saturday, January 31.
 
Bentley said the team will stick to the same game plan for Saturday's match.
 
"The challenge is to replicate the same level of intensity and not let our guard down. It's not who you play or where you play, it's how well you play."
 
 
GAME NOTES: The Duckworth Challenge was started in the 1991-92 season by the late Dr. Henry E. Duckworth (president of the University of Winnipeg from 1971-81 and Chancellor of the University of Manitoba from 1986-92) in an effort to profile the intense but friendly cross-town rivalry between the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba.
 
The University of Manitoba holds an overall Duckworth Challenge record of 12-6-5 with a 56-39 record in all games and a women's volleyball record of 18-6. The Bisons lead the 24th Challenge 2-0 after winning 2-0 in women's soccer on September 13, 2014.
 
Cockrell won her third Duckworth Challenge Player of the Game award. She also won in the 2010-11 Manitoba victory and the 2012-13 loss to the University of Winnipeg. Libero Tia Boroski took home the Player of the Game award for the Wesmen.
 
The final portion of the Duckworth Challenge takes place at the University of Winnipeg on Friday, January 30 when the Bisons take on the Wesmen in women's basketball at 6 p.m. CST and men's basketball at 8 p.m. CST.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Jordana Milne

#3 Jordana Milne

MB
6' 0"
4th
4
Rachel Cockrell

#6 Rachel Cockrell

RS
5' 10"
4th
4

Players Mentioned

Jordana Milne

#3 Jordana Milne

6' 0"
4th
4
MB
Rachel Cockrell

#6 Rachel Cockrell

5' 10"
4th
4
RS