WINNIPEG – The Thompson Rivers Wolfpack handed the Manitoba Bisons their first loss at Investors Group Athletic Centre since February of 2023 on Friday night, coming out on top in a 3-1 grind to improve to 1-0 on the year. Manitoba fell to 1-2.
 
Two of four sets went to extra points, with three of four going into the 20s in a showcase between two of the country's most talented teams.
 
Twenty-eight-year-old 6'1" outside hitter Rida Erlalelitepe, who's played for Turkey's national team, made a massive introduction to Canada West play, tying the four-set conference kills record of 31, set by fellow Wolfpack standout Iuliia Pakhomenko in 2017.
 
Brooklyn Olfert added 18 kills and 17 digs, while Raya Surinx led Manitoba with 21 kills, and Andi Almonte and Light Uchechukwu tallied 11 each.
 
Defence was another massive storyline, with the two teams combining for 120 digs, including countless long rallies in the fourth set.
 
Erlalelitepe was the story in the first set for TRU, giving her side an early advantage with precision on her line shots. She had only one error in the set, along with nine kills, hitting .444.
 
Manitoba battled back with gritty defence, the two sides combining for 28 digs overall. Almonte led the way offensively for the Herd with five kills on seven attacks as the first went to extras, with TRU holding on for the 26-24 win.
 
Set two featured 34 combined digs from the two sides. Offensively, Olfert took the headlines for TRU, recording four kills and an ace that painted the back line, but it was Manitoba's clutch defence that helped shift momentum.
 
A one-handed dig from Surinx – who had eight in the game – and a back row big from Almonte, one of a game-high 15 for the right and left side, led to a Manitoba kill as the two sides continued to go back and forth.
 
Captain Light Uchechukwu ended the second with a blast down the line on the left side, once again thanks to a few sprawling digs from the Herd.
 
A 15-13 lead for TRU in the third was blown open following a Maria Dancheva kill, where she painted the back line on a blast. That was followed shortly after by a line shot kill from Erlalelitepe, while Olfert was stable in the back row during a variety of rallies, giving TRU the 25-18 set win.
 
Manitoba had a number of impressive highlights in the set, including a one-handed dig from middle Brenna Bedosky, one of five on the night, which led to a roll shot kill from Andi, following a great pass by setter Katreena Bentley. The latter had 48 assists in the game, and put her body on the line countless times.
 
The fourth set was an absolute thriller, with TRU winning 29-27.
 
Olfert and Erlalelitepe combined for 16 kills, while Surinx had nine for the Bisons. The Herd had set point three times, but the Wolfack continued to push back.
 
Highlights included Bentley sprawling halfway across the floor to keep a ball in play with the score tied at 25, leading to a Surinx blast off hands, while Erlalelitepe grazed the back line to tie the game at 27.
 
The Wolfpack eventually won the game on a block, capping an absolute classic at IGAC. Both teams play again tomorrow at 5:45.