Box Score Winnipeg, MB – It was a bittersweet homecoming for the #6 University of Manitoba Bison men's volleyball team on Friday, NOvember 4 night. The squad won their home opener in straight sets (25-13, 25-17, 25-19) over the University of Regina Cougars at Investors Group Athletic Centre, but veteran middle Josh Crellin left the game in the second set with what is likely a broken foot.
 
"It was nice the way we came out. We came out ready to play," Bison head coach Garth Pischke said after the game. "Everybody was very intense. I thought we held it together pretty well, considering what happened."
 
The Bisons are now 2-1 this season after splitting a set on the road against the Mount Royal University Cougars last weekend.
 
Manitoba's Evan Jackson led both teams with 10 kills. Adam DeJonckheere, Devren Dear and Regina's Brennan Goski each had nine.
 
Quick rallies kept the first set short. Regina's Conal McAinsh set the pace for the set when he opened the game with a service ace and immediately followed with a long serve. Bison right side Dear responded with an ace, and Manitoba quickly took over. The home side jumped out early and served up three more aces to take a 13-6 lead and force a Cougars timeout. Manitoba eventually took the set after a powerful Dustin Spiring kill put the Bisons up 25-13.
 
Regina fought back in the second, but the Cougars couldn't beat back the Bisons' dominant offense. Manitoba put up 14 kills in the set, including five from Dear alone. The home side had a 21-14 lead when Crellin fell to the court. 
 
"I think he committed on the middle attack, and it looked to me like he might have landed on the Regina guy's foot," Pischke said, noting Crellin's foot is likely broken.
 
The game was delayed over half an hour while paramedics attended to Crellin, but Pischke commended his team for staying focused during the stop in play.
 
 "That (mental attitude) was sort of what was lacking last weekend," he said. "We were very focused on what we were doing on the court, and the credit goes to all the players for having the right attitude out there."
 
That focus paid off, as the Bisons came back from the delay to win the set 25-17.
 
The Cougars jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the third, but the Bisons regained the serve on an error and fought back to win three straight rallies of their own. The teams traded points throughout most of the set, but Manitoba always maintained a slight advantage.
 
With the game on the line, the Cougars held the Bisons at set point through three rallies, before a Ken Rooney kill gave the Bisons a 25-19 set victory and a 3-0 win.
 
"It was a little bittersweet with the injury that we had," Pischke said. "(We're) still trying to digest that, and we hope Josh is okay."
 
Game 2 of the weekend set takes place on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. CT at Investors Group Athletic Centre.