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Spencer Grahame
Chris Lindsey

Men's Volleyball Press Release

Bisons volleyball host home opening weekend against Thompson Rivers

Prior to Friday's game, the women's team will unveil the Canada West banner they earned last season, the first in school history. Both teams went 1-1 last week against Calgary to open the season.

After a thrilling opening week of competition against Calgary, Manitoba's volleyball teams return home to play Thompson Rivers on Friday and Saturday. Friday's men's game is at 6 pm with the women ay 7:45. The rematches go Saturday at 4 and 5:45 pm, respectively. Click here for tickets.

On the women's side, five different members of the roster finished in double digits in points against Calgary in a weekend split to open the Canada West season. Overall, six of ten sets went into the 20s in a back-and-forth grind all weekend.

Manitoba leads Canada West after two games with 113 total kills, including 34 from left side Andi Almonte, who had 100 attacks over two games. In Saturday's game against the Dinos, she put up a career-high 21 kills, and with reigning Player of the Year Raya Surinx set to make her season debut, the Herd are primed for a big weekend.

Heading into play, setter Katreena Bentley -- a huge reason for Manitoba's offensive success -- has 94 assists, 25 more than anyone else in Canada West. She is just 431 career assists shy of tying the program record of 2,837.

Defensively, Bentley ranks third in digs in Canada West, with 28, while libero Julia Arnold is second with 33, and Light Uchechukwu is first, with 34. Fresh off a summer representing Team Canada alongside Surinx, Arnold is just 233 regular season digs shy of the modern era Bisons record, and 312 shy of the Canada West record. She currently has 1,097, one of just three Bisons in the modern era to reach 1000.

On the men's side, a veteran Bisons picked up 18 service aces in two games against Calgary, which they split. That total is tied for the most in Canada West, with head coach Arnd 'Lupo' Ludwig noting that his team's serving consistency has notably improved since last year.

Four different 'Zoons had three aces to open the year, in right side Karil Dadash Adeh, left side Kai Boyko and middles Jordon Heppner and Jonah Dueck. Heppner led the way with five aces over two games, which is tied for the second most in Canada West.

Overall, seven different student-athletes had at least 8.5 points against the Dinos, led by team captain Spencer Grahame's 35.

Grahame was particularly dangerous on pipe attacks, where he was perfect in game one versus Calgary. His 30 kills currently rank fifth in Canada West, while Boyko -- who played for Team Canada this summer -- and libero Josh Jehle are first and second in digs, with 21 and 20, respectively.
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Players Mentioned

Josh Jehle

#9 Josh Jehle

LIB
5' 11"
1st
Spencer Grahame

#16 Spencer Grahame

L
6' 6"
1st
Jonah Dueck

#18 Jonah Dueck

M
6' 6"
1st
Light Uchechukwu

#9 Light Uchechukwu

LS/RS
5' 11"
2nd
Katreena Bentley

#12 Katreena Bentley

S
5' 5"
1st
Andi Almonte

#13 Andi Almonte

LS
5' 7"
1st
Julia Arnold

#14 Julia Arnold

LIB
5' 7"
2nd
Raya Surinx

#25 Raya Surinx

LS
6' 0"
3rd
Kai Boyko

#11 Kai Boyko

LS
6' 5"
2nd
Karil  Dadash Adeh

#7 Karil Dadash Adeh

RS
6' 8"
3rd

Players Mentioned

Josh Jehle

#9 Josh Jehle

5' 11"
1st
LIB
Spencer Grahame

#16 Spencer Grahame

6' 6"
1st
L
Jonah Dueck

#18 Jonah Dueck

6' 6"
1st
M
Light Uchechukwu

#9 Light Uchechukwu

5' 11"
2nd
LS/RS
Katreena Bentley

#12 Katreena Bentley

5' 5"
1st
S
Andi Almonte

#13 Andi Almonte

5' 7"
1st
LS
Julia Arnold

#14 Julia Arnold

5' 7"
2nd
LIB
Raya Surinx

#25 Raya Surinx

6' 0"
3rd
LS
Kai Boyko

#11 Kai Boyko

6' 5"
2nd
LS
Karil  Dadash Adeh

#7 Karil Dadash Adeh

6' 8"
3rd
RS