Box Score Winnipeg, MB - After a thrilling Friday night match between #3 Manitoba and UBC, both men's volleyball teams were back at it in the afternoon of Jan.14 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The Herd extended their conference winning streak to 12 straight after picking up a second win on the weekend (25-23, 27-29, 25-16, 25-23) over the visiting T-Birds.
Today's victory also marked the 1,300th career-coaching win for Manitoba Bisons Men's Volleyball Head Coach, Garth Pischke.
"It was a tough one! A very hard fought battle by both teams." said the Head Coach.
Manitoba clinched the win with a 25-23 fourth set victory. Devren Dear was sensational for his team, putting up 27 kills in the match.
The Thunderbirds and Bisons went stride for stride to begin the match, with the Bisons holding a narrow 16-12 lead mid way through the opening set. Fourth year Bison player, Adam DeJonckheere's service game was strong, putting several dangerous balls into the UBC side of the court. The first set would remain close until Manitoba eventually would take it by a score of 25-23. Dear lead the Herd with eight kills in the first set, Irvan Brar and Mat Guidi each had four kills for the visiting squad from Vancouver.
The second set would play out just like the first. Both teams continued to exchange points with the home side once again holding a slim 16-15 lead at the time of the technical timeout. It would take the Bisons and Thunderbird a few extra rallies to determine a second set winner. Brar would eventually put down one of his nine kills in the second set to take it for UBC, 29-27. Dear continued his strong play putting down 12 kills in the set for his hometown Bisons.
For the third straight set to start the game, the Bisons carried a 16-11 lead at the half way mark of the set. Manitoba would pull away after the break. Evan Jackson and Dear would come up with two key blocks back to back to help push the Herd to a 25-16 third set victory.
Both teams will be at home next weekend. The Bisons host the Dinos from the University of Calgary (Jan. 20-21) and UBC will matchup up with the Mount Royal Cougars (Jan. 20-21)
