VANCOUVER – The No. 5 Manitoba Bisons dropped the No. 6 UBC Thunderbirds 3-0 on Saturday night in Vancouver to sweep the Canada West men's volleyball series between the top-10 schools this weekend.

The visiting Bisons took the sets by scores of 25-23, 28-26, and 25-20 at War Memorial Gymnasium.

Manitoba's offence was delivered by committee, as Ken Rooney posted 11 kills for the Bisons, while Devren Dear and Adam DeJonckheere notched 10 apiece. Luke Herr was their primary facilitator, as he recorded 35 assists to pace Manitoba.

The 'Birds were led by third-year outside hitter Irvan Brar, who racked up a monstrous 16 kills on the evening to with three services aces, and fifth-year middle Alex Russell, who knocked down eight kills of his own. Setters Milan Nikic and Byron Keturakis both play significant minutes for the T-Birds, with Nikic dishing out 24 helpers to Keturakis' 16.

The first set was a constant back-and-forth, with neither team able to create separation. Despite an abundance of offensive firepower on both squads, the biggest margin of difference in the first set was a mere three points, and the last time that occurred was at 7-4 for the T-Birds. After Bisons captain Kevin Falconer knotted it up, earning a kill and then delivering two consecutive service aces, the two sides went back and forth, all the way up to 23-23. From there, a service error from Nikic, and a poorly hit ball by Brar gave Manitoba the two points it needed to close out the first set.

Aside from Brar, who smashed an impressive seven kills during the first frame, third-year Jarrid Ireland was excellent for the 'Birds, as he notched five kills and made plays all over the court.

Dear had five kills in the first set, while Falconer had four on five swings.

The second set saw the T-Birds fight valiantly, as facing they came back from two Bisons set points to tie the frame up at 25-25. Rooney got the kill on the next play to give Manitoba another set point. Brar responded with a kill of his own to level the score at 26-26. DeJonckheere made it 27-26 for the visitors with a kill. Herr and Josh Crellin then clinched the set with a combination block.

Rooney had six kills for Manitoba in the third set, which UBC led 7-6 early. But the Bisons reeled off the next six points – with three from Rooney kills – to take a 12-7 lead. The Thunderbirds couldn't cut the gap, and despite three straight Brar kills late, the home side fell 25-20 in the third.

Manitoba (4-0) will host MacEwan next weekend (Oct. 30-31) at the Investors Group Athletic Centre, while UBC (0-2) will travel to Regina.