WINNIPEG – Fighting for their post-season lives, the Manitoba Bisons got the job done, out-lasting the Saskatchewan Huskies in five (25-23, 25-22, 25-27, 13-25, 15-11) in a physical affair.
 
The win improved Manitoba's record to 13-11, as they secured the eighth and final playoff spot in the Canada West conference.
 
The 'Zoons have reached the playoffs in all three seasons of head coach Arnd 'Lupo' Ludwig's tenure, and their 13 regular season wins are the most in a season since 2016-17.
 
The Huskies fell to 16-8, but will still host a home playoff date.
 
Sammy Ludwig dished out 50 assists for Manitoba, while Spencer Grahame, Eric Ogaranko and Karil Dadash Adeh combined for 44 kills. On defence, middle Jonah Dueck had ten assisted blocks, the fourth-most in a five set match in CanWest history.
 
The Huskies were led by 25 kills from Isaiah Mamer.
 
"The first year we had seven wins, last year we had nine wins, this year we have 13 wins. You've seen how we've improved," said Ludwig.
 
"The good thing is we have only second and third-years on the court. It's going in the right direction."
 
Mamer and Ogaranko went back and forth in the first. The pair combined for 11 kills and just one error, smashing home multiple kills in one-on-one situations on either side of the court.
 
Setters Noah Opseth from the Huskies Ludwig from the Bisons combined for 24 assists, consistently finding the right matchups as both sides hit above .225. A service error from Sask, one of five in the first ultimately gave the 'Zoons the set.
 
It was a block party in the second set, with the two teams combining for eight total. Dueck, averaging over a block per set this season, recorded four assisted, while 6'10" Huskies middle Jacob Baird added four for the Huskies.
 
A two-point game late went to the Bisons, as the visitors recorded three straight errors with the score tied at 22, giving Manitoba a 2-0 lead.
 
The physicality picked up further in set three.
 
The Huskies had set point at 24-23, but digs on from libero Josh Jehle and right side Karil Dadash Adeh – part of 72 overall in the game – kept a long rally going, which was ended by an Ogaranko and Dueck block.
 
Dueck also won the press two points later, resulting in an Ogaranko kill, however Mamer shut things down afterwards.
 
The leading attacker for the Huskies in the game recorded back-to-back cross court kills following Huskies digs to take the match to four. Mamer had 16 kills after three.
 
Saskatchewan commanded play in the fourth, doubling up Manitoba early, and winning by 12.
 
Mamer, Opseth and Jefferson Morrow all recorded aces, while a physical Huskies attack, including six kills in two sets by sub Joshua Thorson, did the trick.
 
Ludwig switched out his starters to provide a different look in the latter portion of the set, with Nicoles Carter tallying two kills and an assisted block, but the depth of the Huskies proved to be lethal, with Opseth racking up 45 assists entering the fifth.
 
Nine digs from Manitoba kept numerous rallies going, as they battled in the fifth, coming back from 7-5 down to sit on match point, which was won thanks to Dueck from the middle, with his seventh kill.
 
Dadash Adeh had three digs off the chest to keep rallies going, while Ogaranko had six kills.
 
Sask will await the results of tonight's other games to see who they play in the quarterfinals next week, while the Bisons will travel to play Alberta for the second post-season in a row.
 
The two teams faced off a week ago, and Manitoba took a game against the No. 1 seed. They also faced the Golden Bears in the quarter-finals last year, so the two teams are quite familiar with each other.
 
"If we can play as free as we played last week, or last year in the second night [of playoffs], and relax and enjoy the game, we can do a lot," added Ludwig.
 
"Today we dealt really well with the pressure we had, and if you don't have much pressure it's even easier to deal with that stuff. We have a shot. Last year we went there and got some playoff experience. This year there's definitely a bigger chance."