Two of the hottest teams in the nation, Bisons volleyball welcomes UBCO to town having won a combined ten of their last 11 games (games Friday at 6 and 7:45 pm, Saturday and 5 and 6:45 pm, click here for tickets). 

Winners of their last six in a row and sitting in a top four position at 8-2, the women host a 5-5 UBCO side that knows them well. The two teams met in the pre-season with the Heat coming out with the W. The visitors also took a game against 8-2 Alberta last weekend -- the only team they've currently faced that has a winning record. 

Manitoba, who've lost just two sets at home this year and are 15-2 at IGAC dating back to last year, aim for the last laugh, boasting a veteran lineup that features the nation's kills leader Raya Surinx (160) and assists per set leader Katreena Bentley (10.29). 

Surinx was served up 93 times over a two-game sweep against Thompson Rivers last weekend, recording a combined 38 kills, along with just three errors in Saturday's contest.

It's not just the second-year that's firing though, as Bentley has distributed the ball evenly in a diverse attack. Middle Brenna Bedosky continues to be one of the most efficient attackers at her position, recording 26 kills and just five errors over two games against TRU. She's hitting .409 on the year, with fellow middle Eve Catojo hitting .511. 

On the UBCO side, look for outside hitter Hellen Luvizetti Lacava to play a lead role (14 kills in a 3-1 win over Manitoba last year).

The fifth-year Brazil native was fed 30 times in UBCO's 3-2 win over the Pandas last Friday, recording a season-best 13 kills including the game-ender in the fifth. Her back row play, especially with Surinx hitting, will also be important. She has 56 digs, second on the team, and in 2019-20 she was one of just three players in CanWest with at least 250 kills and 250 digs. 

Fourth-year Amaya Perry -- the 2019-20 Canada West Rookie of the Year -- also had 13 kills in last Friday's win against Alberta. She's been the first option for setter Abigail Dueck, currently sitting seventh in CanWest with 105 kills. Perry, along with Surinx are two of just nine hitters in the conference with over 100 kills. 

On the men's side, the 6-4 Bisons are right in the playoff pack thanks to four wins in their last five, including three in a row. They welcome a 1-9 Heat side that's lost eight in a row, but did take a game against nationally ranked Winnipeg at the start of the year. 

The visitors are up for a tall task against an elite Bisons block that's third in the nation with 107 blocks this year. Over two games against Thompson Rivers last weekend, the 'Zoons recorded a combined 44 assisted blocks, led by ten from last year's U SPORTS Rookie of the Year Jordon Heppner and primary attacker Eric Ogaranko. 

Manitoba is a team that thrives on their energy, especially on the block, where Heppner, Ogaranko, Jonah Dueck and Spencer Grahame all have at least 20 on the year. Ever since a team meeting following a 3-0 loss to Mount Royal on November 17 (finding the fun in playing again), the Bisons haven't lost. On top of an elite block, libero and Team Canada U21 member Josh Jehle is second in the nation, with 90 digs. 

On the UBCO side, look for third-year outside hitter Renn Petryk to play a lead role. He has a team-high 116 kills on the year, including a leading 13 in the Heat's 3-0 win over the Wesmen at the beginning of the year.