Bisons fall to Bobcats in women's volleyball at home

Manitoba now 2-19

Box Score WINNIPEG - The Bison women's volleyball team lost their tenth straight Friday, February 12 night with a heartbreaking 3-1 loss (25-17, 25-17, 25-11, 28-26) to the Brandon University Bobcats at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

The Bisons are now 2-19, while the Bobcats extended their win streak to nine games and are now 12-9.

"It was good in the fourth," Bison head coach Ken Bentley said after the game. "It's pretty disappointing. We had a million chances to win. We should have won."

Brandon's Shanlee McLennan led both teams with 23 kills. Manitoba's Tori Studler led the home side with 11.

The Bisons looked strong in the first. Almost every Manitoba player on the court recorded a kill in the set, but momentum won it for the Bisons. After an impressive showing through the first few rallies, the home side broke an 11-11 tie and recorded eight points in 10 rallies. The Bisons put up another streak at the end of the set, which included two kills from Sarah Klassen, to take the first 25-17.

But careless mistakes quickly cost Manitoba the lead in the second. The Bisons struggled to cover the court and respond to forceful attacks from McLennan and Jodie Baker. Manitoba tied the game at six with a kill from Angelica Kilberg, but the Bobcats responded and won the next five rallies. Brandon carried the lead through the rest of the set, winning the second 25-17.

Brandon kept their momentum going into the third. The Bobcats dominated the set and only gave up consecutive rallies (one on a bad set and another on a Kalena Schulz service ace) once before the technical timeout. The strong Brandon defense held the Bisons to only four points in the second half of the set, while the Bobcats claimed the fourth 25-11.

The Bisons turned the game around in the fourth. The home side took an early lead, thanks to strong attacks from the front line and two straight service aces from Allison Alcock. Manitoba held on to their advantage, despite losing one of their strongest middles. Kilberg left the game midway through the fourth with a lower-body injury and did not return.

But the Bobcats battled back after the technical timeout and sent the Bisons scrambling. Brandon won six rallies after the technical timeout to tie the game at 22. The teams tied again at 24, 25 and 26 before the Bobcats won the set 28-26 and the game 3-1.

Despite the loss, Bentley praised his rookie players, who he said all played well.

The teams will face off again on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. CT at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

Set scores:
Manitoba: 25-17-11-26: 1
Brandon: 17-25-25-28: 3

Kill leaders
Manitoba: Tori Studler (11), Allison Alcock (9) and Sarah Klassen (7)
Brandon: Shanlee McLennan (23), three players (7) and Courtney Roberts (6)

Dig leaders
Manitoba: Cassie Bujan (16), Tori Studler (12) and Allison Alcock (6)
Brandon: Donata Huebert (15), three players (11) and Courtney Roberts (6)

Assist leaders
Manitoba: Sydney Booker (19), Sydney Purvis (15) and Cassie Bujan (2)
Brandon: Nikki Majewski (44), Donata Huebert (3) and Courtney Roberts (2)

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