After a first-round bye secured the No. 3 ranked Bison women's hockey team some rest, this weekend's showcase turns to volleyball.
Both Bison men's and women's teams are in the post-season race, but will need to make noise against a pair of strong Trinity Western teams to take their seat at the playoff table.
Also on the road are the Bison track and field teams, who have one more tune-up at the University of North Dakota (UND) before taking on the Canada West Championships.
Get set for it all in our weekend preview.
Women's Volleyball at #5 Trinity Western – February 15 (8 PM), February 16 (7 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.tv
UPDATES: follow @BisonWVB on Twitter
With two matches to go, Bison women's volleyball (11-11) find themselves in a group of four teams — with Thompson Rivers (11-11), MacEwan (11-11), and Mount Royal (10-12) — playing musical chairs for three un-clinched playoff spots.
For Manitoba, that means holding off Mount Royal in a challenging weekend against the No. 5 ranked Trinity Western Spartans.
The Bisons are coming off two losses to Regina last weekend, but got a solid defensive weekend from fifth-year libero
Cassie Bujan, who had 32 digs combined in the two matches. Coming into her final two conference regular season games, Bujan needs 26 digs to set a new Canada West season record — she's currently at 401.
The Spartans will test Bujan and the Bisons' defence with a multi-pronged attack led by third-year outside hitter Hilary Howe, who is eighth in the conference in kills per set (3.25) and seventh in points per set (4.1).
If they clinch a playoff spot this weekend, Bison women's volleyball will be on the road for the Canada West Quarterfinals, taking place between Feb. 21-24.
Men's Volleyball at #2 Trinity Western – February 15 (10 PM), February 16 (9 PM)
WATCH: CanadaWest.tv
UPDATES: follow @BisonWVB on Twitter
Four points back of UBC with two matches to go, the Bison men (7-13) will need some help if they're going to get into the post-season. Facing No. 2 ranked Trinity Western (16-4), they'll need to start with a pair of upsets and for Calgary to sweep the Thunderbirds (9-11). From there, tiebreaker rules come into effect.
The Spartans are led by the conference's top hitter by percentage, as third-year outside Eric Loeppky has hit .381 while averaging 3.50 kills per set this season. As a team, Trinity Western have excellent numbers: ranking third in CW in kills per set (12.32), third in assists per set (11.71), and third in blocks per set (2.66).
Manitoba will also look for a dynamic weekend on the block, as second-year middle
Brendan Warren continues to lead the conference at 1.45 blocks per set. Warren has been a bit of a barometer for the Bisons' success in the second half, as he's averaged 10.7 blocks in three Manitoba wins and 3.2 blocks in five losses.
If they clinch a playoff spot this weekend, Bison men's volleyball will be on the road for the Canada West Quarterfinals, taking place between Feb. 21-24.
Track & Field – UND Tune-Up – February 16
The Bison track and field teams have one more event between them and the 2019 Canada West Championships, being hosted by Alberta on February 22-23. That event takes them to UND, where select members will try to add to the four auto-qualifying times already set.
Bisons
Oyinko Akinola (triple jump),
Alhaji Mansaray (high jump),
Tegan Turner (60m), and
Emily Blackner (pole vault) have already clinched spots at the 2019 U SPORTS Track & Field Championships, hosted by the U of M. The men as a team continue to be ranked fourth in the nation this week.
Notes from the Range
