Box Score Winnipeg, MB – The #3 University of Manitoba Bisons men's volleyball team took care of the University of Winnipeg Wesmen in the 26th annual Duckworth Challenge 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-21) at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on Thursday December 8.

With the win Manitoba wins the men's volleyball portion of the Duckworth Challenge, and improves to 11-1 in conference play. With the loss, Winnipeg falls to 4-8 in the Canada west division standings.

The Bisons have played very consistent as of late, winning ten straight games.

"We have played very very solid, and everyone is contributing" Bisons head coach Garth Pischke said. "Everybody feels right now that they're going to be the guy that scores the next point for us, so that's a good thing when they're all confident out there."

Manitoba's Luke Herr and Winnipeg's David Bommersbach were named Duckworth Challenge players of the game for their respective squads. 

Adam DeJonckheere and Devren Dear led the Bisons with 11 kills each, and David Bommersbach led the Wesmen with 11 kills of his own.

The home side never trailed, and took control in the first set, taking an early 8-3 set lead. Winnipeg made seven attack errors, compared to the Bisons two, who converted 13 kills in the set. Devren Dear led the Herd with five kills in the set, Scott Vercaigne and Adam DeJonckheere added another three each. The Bisons also had a .440 attack percentage, compared to Winnipeg's .040
percent, helping Manitoba to a 25-14 first set victory.

The second set was more competitive, but again the Herd took the set. The set featured a lot of attacking errors, with the Bisons committing nine, and the Wesmen committing 11. Manitoba led 10-9 in kills, and stayed at a positive percentage attacking wise, while the visitors attacked at -.065 percent.

The final set began with a lot of back and forth play, with the teams tied at six points early. The game remained close, and tied at 15 points until DeJonckheere converted on a kill, giving the Herd the 16-15 lead, and the momentum heading into a timeout. On the very next play, Dustin Springs came up with a huge block, and increased the Bisons lead to two. Winnipeg would make a strong push late, tying the match at 20 points. The home side would strike back on the next play to take a 21-20 lead, and then Vercaigne would convert back-to back service aces to give Manitoba a 23-20 lead late. The home side would keep their lead, and go on to win
the set, 25-21.

Both teams have completed the first half of their schedules, and will resume play after the holiday break.

Set Scores (Bisons score first): (25-14, 25-19, 25-21)
 
Kill leaders
MB: Devren Dear and Adam DeJonckheere (11)
WPG: David Bommersbach (11)
 
Assist leaders
MB: Luke Herr (29)
WPG: Mikael Clegg (23)
 
Dig leaders
MB: Luke Herr and Devren Dear (5)
WPG: Logan Brennan (6)
 
Total block leaders
MB: Ken Rooney (5)
WPG: Ethan Duncan, Garrett Jones, Mikael Clegg, David Bommersbach (2)