Box Score WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons men's volleyball team welcomed back the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack to the floor of Investors Group Athletic Centre on Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg. The visitors took the first match of the two-game weekend series between the two sides in four sets. 
 
Manitoba claimed their first win of the Canada West season in three-straight sets (25-22, 25-15, 25-22) after a disappointing home opener the day before. Sophomore Eric Ogaranko tallied 16 kills on 25 attacks, totalling a hit percentage of .480 to help lead his Bisons squad to victory. Veteran Ben Carleton contributed 10 kills of his own in the winning effort. 
 
"The team was way more focused today," said Bisons Head Coach Lupo Ludwig. "We followed our game plan better and made some adjustments in our offence because we wanted to run some different things today due to how good they were at blocking yesterday."
 
Ludwig added: "Our own blocking was also better than it was yesterday which was also a big key to our success." 
 
Manitoba started off much stronger in the second game of the weekend against the Wolfpack, narrowly taking the first set 25-22. The second-year Ogaranko did most of the heavy lifting for the Bisons in the opening set as he recorded six kills on eight total attacks while adding three digs. Carleton chipped in with four kills of his own to help the Herd grab a 1-0 set advantage. 
 
The hosts responded with a 9-3 run to open the second set as they were on the hunt for their first win of the season. Manitoba continued their dominance for the rest of the set, eventually enjoying a 23-11 lead before a service error by the Wolfpacks' Michael Svab sealed the second set for the Bisons, 25-15. 
 
Tied at 5-5 in the third set, Carleton got up for a huge block, his first of the match, on the left side of the court to give his Manitoba squad their first lead of the third frame.  After the Herd regularly held three and four point leads throughout the middle portion of the third set, they finally relinquished the lead back to Thompson Rivers at 18-17 due to a mishandled serve. Ludwig called a timeout for this team who immediately evened the score at 18-18 after the break. Manitoba followed with a service ace from Jack Mandryk to restore a narrow lead.  
 
Still up by one at 23-22, Nicoles Carter posted a clutch block on the right side to set up match point for the hosts. The Bisons captured the straight set victory and their first win of the season after attacking error from the visitors ended the game. 
 
Manitoba will travel to play the UBC-Okanagan Heat next weekend for their third weekend of Canada West conference play on November 4-5.