WINNIPEG — Mathematically eliminated from advancing to the next round of the conference playoffs, the Manitoba Bisons (1-2) played spoiler on Saturday night at the Duckworth Centre, knocking off the UBCO Okanagan Heat 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22). The victory allowed cross-town rival Winnipeg (2-1) to move onto the next round.
It was a total team effort for the Bisons. Left and right side Ben Carleton led an efficient attack with 18 kills and a 39 percent hitting percentage, while Manitoba had 17.5 team blocks. The Heat were led by 17 kills from attacker Max Heppell.
Carleton was particularly effective in the fourth set, recording seven kills, most of which came in the game's final stages.
"[Carleton] wanted to prove something today," said Bisons head coach Arnd 'Lupo' Ludwig. He didn't have the greatest game yesterday. Against Winnipeg he was okay, but today he had a really, really good game."
A back-and-forth first that included 31 total digs set went the Heat's way thanks in part to a balanced attack, as Zach van Geel dished out 13 assists. Manitoba led 20-17 down the stretch, thanks in part to service aces from Carleton and Owen Schwartz, but they couldn't finish things off. Opposite Cameron Vanderveen – one of three Heat players to tally at least four digs – recorded two kills over three points to tie the game at 20, and then UBCO went to Heppell, who had two kills down the stretch, including the set winner.
The Heat led by three on numerous occasions in the second set, led by five kills from Noah Carlson, but they couldn't close things out. The difference maker for the Herd was super sub Matthew Campbell. Like he's done many times this year, the poised right side came in and shifted momentum, this time with the score 19-16 for UBCO. Campbell went three-for-three on the attack and was a force at the service line, including an ace, as the Bisons won five of the next seven points to even things up.
Second-year middle Darian Koskie, who's been efficient all weekend, continued to prove why he's a game-changer on the attack, taking set three over with the score 21-20 UBCO. He recorded three straight kills on great sets from Jack Mandryk as the Herd won the last five points.
Entering set four, Koskie had eight kills and a 50 percent attacking percentage, along with a solo block and three assisted blocks. Overall as a team, Manitoba had 14.5 team blocks, with their leader in that regard, Brendan Warren, tallying three assisted and seven overall, along with a solo from the middle.
"[Koskie] is where he was before Christmas," said Ludwig. "It started last week, you could see he was coming back, and this week he was exactly where we wanted him to be. [Warren's] strength is definitely the block and he showed it tonight. He read the setter pretty well, and he was often in the right spot."
Carleton and Carlson put on a show for the ages with the score tied at 19. They combined for seven of the game's last nine points, but it was the Herd who closed the contest out, as Carleton recorded three critical kills down the pipe — something he's refined all year — and ended it at the service line.
"Pipe is his strongest attack," said Ludwig. "He comes from the middle originally and so when we run these fast pipes, he's our best weapon. He just needs the consistency to keep it going."
Manitoba now has a few weeks off as they prepare to host nationals at home from the 25-27 of March. Their opponent and seedings are still to be decided.
