Box Score WINNIPEG – Over two games at Investors Group Athletic Centre this weekend, the Manitoba Bisons (1-3) and Thompson Rivers Wolfpack (2-0) showed why they're two of the country's top teams, going point for point.
 
The Wolfpack swept the weekend, winning 3-0 on Saturday after a 3-1 on Friday, but the difference between the two sides was minimal. Six of the weekend's seven sets went into the 20s, including two that went to extras.
 
Overall, the two sides combined for 202 digs, while three student-athletes from each side recorded ten points at least once.
 
The Wolfpack were boosted by the additions of 28-year-olds Rida Erlalelitepe and Maria Dancheva, international stars from Turkey, and Bulgaria, respectively, while Winnipeg native Brooklyn Olfert was also a massive force.
 
The trio combined for 35 kills on Saturday against Manitoba, with Erlalelitepe putting down the set-winners in both the second and third (25-22, 25-21) to conclude the weekend.
 
"We didn't play against either [international player] in the pre-season. They're both really, really good players. They had a huge impact, it changes the whole complexion of that team. We just have to deal with it. That's it," said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley.
 
"We have good players too. The whole weekend was a game of two points at the end. We were on the wrong side of those two points. We had chances in each of those two points to win sets. It's not like we were getting whacked. It was super close."
 
Manitoba stayed in the fight all match, and all weekend. Middle Brenna Bedosky put her body on the line many times to save rallies on Saturday, finishing with four digs, while left and right side Ella Gray flashed an impressive shot selection, including numerous kills that painted the back line.
 
Overall, Gray had four kills and five digs on the weekend, while Andi Almonte and Raya Surinx combined for 53, and setter Katreena Bentley dished out 74 assists. Almonte is tied for first in Canada West, with 54 kills after four games.
 
Defensively, libero Julia Arnold and Almonte put up 24, and 23 digs over two games, with Bentley adding 21. Light Uchechukwu tallied 11, as the Herd enter next weekend's road series against Alberta leading Canada West, with 239 digs, 72 more than anyone else in the conference.
 
"We're still a really, really good volleyball team. That hasn't gone away. It teaches us where we have to get better. Let's have the humility to accept it and learn from it," added Bentley.
 
"Every team is going to have a weekend like this, that's the reality of our league and our conference. Obviously I'm happy that we were able to fight in every set. We never gave up playing, obviously. Those qualities were always there. Even in third set, we fought our ass off to win. Even though we didn't win, we never gave up the fight. We never backed down from trying to win."