Winnipeg, MB – The #5 University of Manitoba Bisons men's volleyball team swept the weekend over the #1 University of Alberta Golden Bears in exciting fashion, 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-8) victory at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on Saturday, November 19. The day earlier, the Bisons defeated the Golden Bears 3-1.

Manitoba has now won six straight conference games, improving their record to 7-1. Alberta has now dropped two games in a row against the Herd, falling to 4-2 in Canada West conference play.

The Bisons have now swept the number one team in the nation, building huge confidence for the remainder of the season.

"Confidence is going to be very huge" Bisons head coach Garth Pischke. "We just defeated a very, very strong team, and probably the best program in the country for the last 10-15 years."

The first set like the whole match was very back and forth. The home side was able to score four unanswered points early due to a couple of attacking errors by Alberta, and never looked back from there. The Golden Bears would flirt with tying the game multiple times, but Manitoba never gave it up; winning the set 25-23. Devren Dear's five kills helped, and it helped the home side take the opening set.

Alberta came out much stronger in the second set, as they took an early 11-4 lead over the hosts. Bisons Scott Vercaigne had back-to-back kills late in the set, but it was too late as the visitors held onto set number two. Taylor Arnett led Alberta with six kills in the frame.

Manitoba got momentum back in the third set, as they took an early 12-6 lead, and ran with it. The Herd won the third frame, led by Dear's eight kills, winning the set 25-19.

The visitors were up 13-9, but four unanswered points powered by Vercaigne and Dear kills tied the set at 13, forcing Alberta to call a timeout. Both teams came out firing after the timeout, but a kill by Arnett, and a set winning block helped Alberta send the game to a fifth and final set.

Aaran Chambers started off the final set with a service error, and the Bisons followed up with a block on the next play, going up 2-0 early in the set. Manitoba increased their lead to 6-3, before back-to-back aces from setter Luke Herr increased their lead to 8-3. Manitoba never trailed in the set, as Alberta serving errors, and Ken Rooney's game winning kill, led to the Bisons winning the final set, and the game 15-8.

Devren Dear led the home side in kills with 20, and Ryan Nickifor led the visitors with 19.

Bisons will be on their conference by during the November 25-26 weekend, while Alberta will host the Winnipeg Wesmen on Nov. 25-26. Manitoba will resume play on December 2. 

Set scores (Bisons listed first): (25-23, 18-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-8)

Kill leaders
MB: Devren Dear (20)
AB: Ryan Nickifor (19)

Assist leaders
MB: Luke Herr (47)
AB: Brett Walsh (55)

Dig leaders
MB: Kevin Falconer and Evan Jackson (7)
AB: Ryan Nickifor (9)

Total block leaders
MB: Devren Dear (8)
AB: Taylor Arnett (9)