WINNIPEG - The Trinity Western University Spartans came out on top in a three set-match versus the University of Manitoba Bisons Friday in front of the Alumni Night crowd at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
The defending U SPORTS champs improved their record to 6-1 with the win (25-14, 25-19, 25-20), while Manitoba dropped to 3-2.
"Our combination of good passing, good setting and our middle attack puts a lot of pressure on our opponents, and that was on display tonight," said Spartans head coach Ben Josephson.
Josephson's team showed no lack of effort despite their recent success.
"You got to be the hardest working, most focused team if you want to be the best team," said Josephson. "Complacency's part of human nature, but if you want to be a great volleyball player and athlete you have to be great in the moment."
Veterans Brodie Hofer, Jackson Howe and Jacob Kern were all dominant for Trinity Western, all reaching double-digit kills despite playing three sets. Kern added two service aces and six digs.
The Spartans took the first set in convincing fashion, beating the Bisons 25-14. Hofer had four kills in the set.
Manitoba battled back with some extended rallies in the second, but Trinity Western held on to take the set 25-19.
There was no quit in the Bisons after going down 2-0, but they dropped the third and final set 25-20 despite a much-improved .370 hitting percentage.
"We play really scrappy, lots of us are undersized and don't back down," said Bisons' left side Zach Janzen. "We're going to come back tomorrow, work on our passing and see where that takes us."
Janzen finished with six kills for Manitoba. Left side Ben Carleton led the home team with 10 kills and two digs.
"We got to figure out number 17 [Janzen], he's had a great season spiking the ball and we had some ideas to contain him and it didn't work," said Josephson. "Carleton does a really good mixing up his speeds, those two guys gave us a lot of problems."
Janzen and the Bisons will be looking to work off their improved third set tomorrow night when the Bisons and Spartans face off again at 5 p.m. at IGAC.
