WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons battled back from two sets down, but couldn't complete the upset on Thursday night at the Duckworth Centre, falling 3-2 to the No. 3 nationally ranked Winnipeg Wesmen.
 
The victory narrows Manitoba's lead to 2-1 in the annual Duckworth Challenge, which concludes with basketball at IGAC on Friday at 6 and 8 pm. The rematch in the home and home for volleyball takes place on Saturday at 3:45 pm.
 
Winnipeg improved to 13-2, atop the Canada West standings. Manitoba fell to 7-10, but remain in a play-in round hosting position, in seventh.
 
As it has all season, service pressure was the key to the Bisons' comeback.
 
Captain Spencer Grahame posted two of his career-high five aces in the third set, including a blast that painted the right sideline, with no chance at a return. He also led the Herd with 13 kills.
 
Middle Jordon Heppner added four aces for the country's best serving team, adding to his career-high total of 36. Right side Karil Dadash Adeh also put down an ace, increasing his U SPORTS-leading total to 43, seven ahead of Heppner for second.
 
As a team, the Bisons had 15 aces.
 
Manitoba's service pressure aided their block defence. Heppner had two solos and four assisted, with two of the latter helping to close out sets.
 
In set three, Heppner combined with setter Alex Witt (Manitoba's game MVP with 27 assists and two kills) for a denial at the net, while he and setter Sammy Ludwig got up for a big block late in set four.
 
But like he's done all season, outside hitter Isaiah Olfert stepped up in key moments for Winnipeg.
 
He had four kills in the fifth, smashing the ball cross-court, off hands and into the back row, helping the hosts power ahead 6-3 and later 15-12. Manitoba pushed back but was never able to tie the game.
 
Olfert finished with 20 kills, and is second in the nation with 231 on the season.
 
Four other Wesmen had at least five kills in the match, including middle Easton Dick, who had five. His most impressive kill won set one for Winnipeg.
 
The 6'7" big man showed impressive athleticism spinning around in no-look fashion to dump the volleyball into the pot for a point.
 
Luke Lodewyks added six kills, including one of his two aces to help seal a second set win for Winnipeg.