Fifth-year right side Kevin Negus (leads team with 53 kills) and third-year left side Owen Schwartz (second on team with 33 kills) have settled nicely into leadership roles for the Manitoba Bisons in 2019.

A unit full of talent and chemistry, the Bisons are currently tied for third in the conference standings at 3-1, as they attempt to position themselves in as high a seed as possible for nationals in March.

But instead of patting themselves on the back, Negus and Schwartz were both quick to credit alumni who helped establish a team culture years ago, one that continues to be in operation to this day.

"I remember [former left side/co-captain] Kevin Falconer my first year," Negus says.

"It was my first day on the team and he was just encouraging all of the boys to get together one night and come to his place to watch a football game and team bond. Right away I knew I wanted to be part of this team, and I knew right away that when I was in my upper years I wanted to have the exact same kind of team culture."

Negus stayed true to his word, establishing a bond immediately in his third year with Schwartz, who at that time was the top high school volleyball player in the province coming out of Selkirk.

"If we're not in class we're in the team room hanging out, playing rummy games or going out for lunch. We basically just do everything together because we're so close," Schwartz says of his relationship to his teammates.

"It really doesn't take long for us to get close with everybody else. I remember the first day with Kevin, I had no idea who he was, I had never seen this guy in my life. And then three days later we're best buds, getting lunch like every day for the next week."

Negus and Schwartz's rise as impact players at the U SPORTS level occurred at roughly the same time.

They each learned under veteran outside hitters Adam DeJonckheere and Scott Vercaigne in 2017-18 as rotational players, beforetaking the next step last season.

Negus led the team in kills in 2018-19, with 271 while Schwartz had 101 kills while also finishing second on the team in digs, with 125.

"The guy had the fastest arm I've ever seen," Schwartz says of DeJonckheere, now the colour commentator for Bisons volleyball.

"He basically gave me all the knowledge of how to play with the right attitude, and how to deal with when things are going well and aren't going well."

Schwartz's attitude, and immensely high volleyball IQ are just two aspects of his game that make him a game-changer.

"I would be that kid who would watch YouTube videos of volleyball and watch full games, when a lot of guys now don't even like watching volleyball," he joked.

"I would take a lot just from watching. It's the same with most things. I learn better by seeing it done, less than it being explained to me. If I can see it being done, then I'll most likely do it properly because I can manipulate it myself and imitate that action."

Negus added that Schwartz's calming presence on the court is a huge plus for him, especially if things aren't going as planned.

"In my opinion and I think pretty much everyone else's on the team as well, having Owen on the court is a huge comfort factor. Every time the ball gets served to him or if he's at the service line, or any time the ball is set to him, I know he's going to do something special. I know he's not going to go out there and blow a ball 100 feet out of bounds or serve on bottom tape.

It also calms me down a bit too. When him and I are in back court together, we're always just chatting about something random and it just takes my mind off things, especially if I make an error."

That trust factor amongst the whole team is evident at any Bisons practice or game. Whether it be Schwartz and Negus, Schwartz and setter Jack Mandryk — who've played club together since grade seven — or any other combination of guys who go way back, there's no denying the family atmosphere that's present whenever the 'Zoons take the court.

"I think the reason we're doing so well this year is because of how much chemistry we all have," says Schwartz. "And it's not just me and Jack or me and Kevin. It's everybody on the court. We do a lot of things together."