WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons couldn't close out a 2-0 set lead in their season opener against the Mount Royal University Cougars at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Saturday evening.

The Cougars' five-set win (22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-15, 15-9) improved their record to 3-0.

Mount Royal outside hitter Madison Marshall led the way with a game-high 19 kills.

"She's a power player," said Mount Royal head coach Sandra Lamb post-game. "She gets on the board all over and we've really relied on her these past weekends and she did nothing but good stuff today."

Mount Royal showed some early struggles, which Bisons' Light Uchechukwu and Kearley Abbott capitalized on with five kills apiece in a first set win.

The Cougars bounced back in the second, briefly taking the lead during its middle period.

But the efforts of veterans Abbott and Laura Hill got the Bisons the lead back, and the Bisons took the set 25-23 off of one of Hill's team-high 16 powering kills.

The Bisons got out to a 2-0 lead, but the match then took a massive swing in the Cougars' favour.

Mount Royal added an energetic intensity to their game in the third, making it no surprise when they coasted to a passionate 25-20 third-set win.

"Right from the beginning we were saying we're pretty quiet," said Lamb. "They then provided that energy to get the flow going."

The Cougars carried their momentum into the fourth, jumping out to a substantial lead before taking the set 25-15 to keep the match going.

In the deciding set, Mount Royal battled to a 15-10 win, completing the comeback.

"There's going to be matches over the Canada West where that's going to happen," said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley. "I mean, we've been down to zero and one this season already as well. So, you know, just being more consistent, we just got to play more steady."

The Bisons and Cougars will play the final match of their weekend series tomorrow at 3:45 p.m. back at the IGAC.