WINNIPEG – The No. 8 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons pushed their winning streak to 11 games on Friday night at IGAC, handing the No. 1 ranked Trinity Western Spartans their first loss of the season 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22). The win improves the Herd's record to 13-2, as they continue to hold a top four ranking in the Canada West conference, along with TWU, who fell to 12-1. The UBC Thunderbirds sit at 14-1 following a 3-0 win over 12-3 Alberta, who round out the top four.
 
Manitoba has won all seven home games this season, losing just three sets. Their win tonight was their first over TWU since February 15, 2019.

"The present issue is we're both at or near the top of the standings. That's the issue of the day. I'm not looking back on history. The match is what I expected it to be," said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley.

"There was no surprises there in terms of level of play or how it was going to be. We were totally ready for a match like that."
 
Setter Katreena Bentley did an excellent job distributing the Bisons' attack. Five different players had at least seven kills, led by the nation's kills and kills per set leader Raya Surinx, who had 19. Bentley finished with 45 assists and also had 12 digs, three aces and four kills.

"It's really easy to feel a connection with Katreena," said Surinx. "I don't really have to do that much to adjust. She's such a consistent setter and just puts the ball in a great place. The connection naturally forms itself."
 
The Spartans got a combined 30 kills from dynamic duo Kaylee Plouffe and Maryn Boldon, with the former, who leads the nation in attacking percentage, hitting .500 with just two errors on 30 attacks.
 
And while Boldon and Plouffe – who played with Surinx on the national team this summer – were solid, the Herd's depth shone throughout. Five different Bisons had at least seven kills, hitting .250 or better in each of the last three sets, all wins. 

The Spartans won the first set, thanks to four kills and five assisted blocks from Plouffe. They hit a sensational .464 with just one error, while the Bisons had eight errors in a 25-22 set win for the visitors.
 
Surinx brought the Bisons back in the second with seven kills, while her service pressure, along with Bentley's caused problems for the opposition. An off-balance Surinx kill followed by a Spartans error gave the Bisons the seven point win in the set.

"I thought after the first set we stayed settled and just kept playing volleyball we kept playing forward," added Bentley. I thought we did a great job maintaining our poise. We didn't get rattled after we lost the first set. We missed three serves late in the set which was a little uncharacteristic for us, we're usually pretty good about those balls. We could have paid for it, but that's the margin for error."

Surinx added another six kills in the third, while the Bisons' defence came up clutch in key moments in a five point set win. Libero Julia Arnold, who had a game-high 16 digs, sprawled to keep a rally alive with one hand, which was eventually ended by Surinx from the left.
 
Plouffe painted the back line with multiple impressive kills, showing off her power and accuracy, but the visitors were unable to get to within more than three, as when they made a run, Bentley found the right matchup, including in the middle, where Brenna Bedosky had four kills in the set, and 11 in the game with just one error.

"[College Jeanne-Sauve] baby! It all started back in high school," chuckled Bentley. "They've been together for a while, and Brenna continues to improve. I thought  [Katreena] did a great job of seeing Brenna, who made it a challenge for the other side. It was good. That's been coming along."

Second-year Chelsea Siebenga also subbed into the game in the third, and made her presence felt. She laid down a cross-court kill to make it 17-13 Manitoba, and also added three crucial digs.

"I knew at some point she would be starting to play a role, coming in and playing," said Bentley. I give her full marks. She practices diligently, she works hard to get better, and when she doesn't play she's kind of our spiritual leader otherwise. What a great kid with a great attitude, and when she got in she got the chance to show off her work. She did a really nice job, stepped in and played some really important points for us."
 
Up by as much as six in the fourth, TWU stormed back to take a 19-18 lead on a Plouffe ace, one of three for her in the match, while the Spartans had three over the next four points overall.
 
Following a Bisons timeout, the hosts re-collected themselves, taking the lead after an Eve Catojo and Ella Gray block. Catojo added another block and an ace, while Bedosky also smashed a kill as the Bisons took a four-point lead and finished off the match in four.
 
Both teams will play again tomorrow at 6:45.