Ready for another busy weekend? Volleyball and hockey are back in action this Nov. 9-10, with basketball on campus for a showdown (with a side of revenge) against UBC. Next door, women's hockey take on Lethbridge looking to continue a win streak.
Also, even though snow may be falling, there's still one more weekend of outdoor action for the Bisons. Out in Kingston, Ontario, select members of the Bison cross country teams will be competing in the U SPORTS Cross Country Championships.
That, and what else to look forward to, in our weekend preview.
#1 Women's Hockey vs. Lethbridge – November 9 (7 PM), November 10 (2 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.tv
LISTEN: UMFM.com
UPDATES: follow @umbisonsWHKY on Twitter
Riding a four-game win streak, Bison women's hockey (5-2-1-0) have the no. 1 ranking in U SPORTS once again. They spent a couple weeks at number two, and now have a chance to further prove their meddle at home against Lethbridge (3-4-0-1).
The Pronghorns have won two straight after sweeping the struggling Dinos before the bye week. Leading the way is forward Tricia Van Vaerenbergh, who has seven points (five goals, two assists), including two goals on the power play and a pair of game-winners. In net, fourth-year goalie Alicia Anderson has played all seven games, reaching a goals against average of 1.30.
The Bisons, meanwhile, come off the bye week still carrying momentum from a quality win over Mount Royal, where first-year goalie
Erin Fargey earned a shutout in her first U SPORTS start. Fifth-year
Lauryn Keen continues to lead the Herd in scoring with seven points (two goals, five assists), while
Sheridan Oswald has five (three goals, two assists).
Tickets for Bison hockey are $10 at the door. U of M students and fans 17-and-under get in free!
Basketball vs. UBC – November 9 (6/8 PM), November 10 (5/7 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.tv
UPDATES: follow @BisonWBB and @BisonMBB on Twitter
With both teams coming off Saturday wins, Bison basketball will play their second straight home weekend at Investors Group Athletic Centre, hosting UBC.
The Bison women come in 4-0 for the first time in 21 years, fresh off sweeping their home opening weekend against Mount Royal. UBC, though, will provide their first stiff test of the season — at no. 8, they are the first U SPORTS-ranked opponent Manitoba will play.
Key for the Thunderbirds (2-2) will be fourth-year guard Maddison Penn, who's averaging 16.3 points per game. There's also some hometown talent on the T-Birds, with Winnipeg native Keylyn Filewich leading them in scoring at 17.8 points on red hot 60.4% field goal shooting.
Manitoba, as always, will look to their two-pronged attack in
Nicole Konieczny and
Taylor Randall. Through four games, the pair are averaging a combined 42.1 points per game.
The Bison men come in with revenge on the brain. UBC was the team that bounced them in last year's Canada West quarter finals, as the 3-1 Thunderbirds are ranked no. 6 in the country and always bring toughness to the table.
Manitoba's key player last weekend was
Andre Arruda — who broke through for 34 points in two games. Arruda and the rest of the Bisons will have their hands full with Division I transfer Jadon Cohee, who is currently tied for the lead in Canada West, scoring 25.0 points per game on 45.3% shooting.
Bison basketball tickets are $10 and available at the door, with U of M students and fans 17-and-under in free.
U SPORTS Cross Country Championships – November 10 (1 PM)
It's championship season for Bison cross country, as 12 athletes will be making the trip to Kingston, Ontario to compete with the best in varsity sports. Last season, the Bisons finished 14
th in the men's standings and 19
th in the women's.
Key performers to watch for include fifth-year
Daniel Heschuk, who had the top time in the Bison time trial and has been the top Bison at three meets since that point. For the women, fellow fifth-year
Janine Zajac has two top-25 finishes for the Herd and will be looking for a strong finish in her last outdoor race.
Volleyball at UBC – November 9 (8/9:30 PM), November 10 (6/7:30 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.TV
UPDATES: follow @BisonWVB and @BisonMVB
The Bison volleyball teams have had mirror image starts, losing their opening weekends and winning both home openers to get to 2-2. This weekend, they travel to UBC.
The Bison women (2-2) go up against UBC (2-4) with an extra week of rest. Libero
Cassie Bujan continues to lead the conference in digs per set (5.19), and will be extra important this weekend as the Thunderbirds have one of the conference's best outside hitters in Kiera Van Ryk. Van Ryk is fourth in Canada West with 3.73 kills per set, averaging 102.0 points per match.
The Bison men (2-2) are hoping for more outstanding play from left side Kevin Negus as they face the 0-6 Thunderbirds. Negus leads Canada West with 4.69 kills per set after an outstanding 26-kill match on Oct. 28 against MacEwan.
Kyle Martens has also been very good for the Herd — at 2.31 digs per set, he is currently fifth in Canada West.
Men's Hockey at Lethbridge – November 9 (8 PM), November 10 (3 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.tv
UPDATES: follow @umbisonsMHKY on Twitter
Bison men's hockey (2-6-0) are looking to dig themselves out, as a marquee win against no. 3 Alberta has been followed by a five-game losing streak. They'll have every opportunity against a struggling Pronghorns team (2-6-0), who are tied for last in Canada West with 29 goals given up through eight games.
Steady for the Herd have been
Brett Stovin and
Nick Zajac, who both have six points to lead Manitoba.
Devon Skoleski has also come up with timely goals, as the first-year has two of his three goals on the power play.
Notes from the Range
