At the end of the 2015-16 Canada West conference men's volleyball regular season, the #3 Manitoba Bisons finished in second place in the Canada West standings with a 19-5 record and now will host the seventh place and #10 Mount Royal Cougars (13-11) in the Canada West Quarter-Final best-of-three playoff series played on the February 25-27 weekend.
The best-of-three playoff series commences on Thursday, February 25 with a special start time of 7 p.m. CT for game one then game two commences on Friday, February 26 at 7 p.m. CT and, if necessary, game three will be play on Saturday, February 27 at 7 p.m. CT. All playoff matches will be played at the Investors Group Athletic Centre - IGAC (U of Manitoba Fort Garry campus).
During this season, Manitoba went 2-0 against Mount Royal as they swept the Cougars at home (W 3-0 on Nov. 6/15; W 3-0 on Nov. 7/15). Since the beginning of the second half of the 2015-16 season, the Bisons have gone 9-3 and went 12-1 at home in 2015-16 so far.
The Bisons are seeking to win a playoff series for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The Herd won 2-0 at home versus UBC Okanagan en route to a 2012 CIS bronze medal finish. Last season, Manitoba lost 2-0 (L 3-2 and L 3-1) vs. UBC at home; in 2013-14, the Bisons did not make the post-season and in 2012-13, the Bisons lost 2-0 at UBC after a four set and five set match losses.
This is the first playoff meeting between the two teams since Mount Royal entered Canada West in the 2012-13 season.
In Canada West 2015-16 final regular season stats, the Bisons men's team was second in hitting percentage at .316, second in assists at 12.60 per set, second in conference kills at 13.35, fourth in blocks at 2.42 per set, tenth in service aces at 1.04 and fourth in conference digs at 9.51.
Individually, Devren Dear finished first and Adam DeJonckheere was tenth in kills per set at 4.47 and 3.31 plus in conference points, Dear in fifth at 388.5 and DeJonckheere was 11th with 314.5. DeJonckheere ended up fifth and Dear was sixth in Canada West in hitting percentage at .322 and .299. Luke Herr was second in Canada West with 11.10 assists per set. Ken Rooney finished seventh and Josh Crellin was 11th in blocks per set at 1.02 and 0.86.
Bison men's volleyball - 2016 Canada West Quarter-Final series home schedule
Date Game Time Place
Thurs, February 25 Game 1: Manitoba vs. Mount Royal 7 p.m. CT IGAC
Fri, February 26 Game 1: Manitoba vs. Mount Royal 7 p.m. CT IGAC
*Sat, February 27 Game 3: Manitoba vs. Mount Royal 7 p.m. CT IGAC
* if necessary
Bison Men's Volleyball - Quarter Final Playoff Ticket Prices: $12 adults; $7 non-U of Manitoba students and seniors while children under 12 (accompanied by at least one adult) are free and U of Manitoba students are free. Group Playoff packages are also available and more information at Bison Sports website (gobisons.ca). Playoff single game tickets will be available at the door.
