WINNIPEG – It was a block party at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Saturday evening as the Manitoba Bisons and UBC Okanagan Heat combined for 49 total blocks in a thriller. The Heat came out with the 3-1 win to sweep the weekend, led by nine assisted blocks from Thys Weststrate, the second-most in a match for the school in a four set game. The Bisons got nine total blocks from Jonah Dueck and six from Owen Weekes.
 
Six Bisons had a kill in the first set as Manitoba erupted to a 15-10 lead, but much like they did the night before, the Heat pushed back, winning the first set 25-22. Scott Koskie called a timeout for his side down five, and it paid off as the visitors scored nine of the next 13 points to take a 19-18 lead. They didn't trail the rest of the way.
 
Lucas Woelders won a one-on-one joust at the net for set point, and Weststrate brought it home with a menacing block. The Heat hit .310 overall in set one, compared to .071 for Manitoba, offering up numerous problems at the net with their block defence.
 
The Heat block continued to be a problem in set two. Seba Manuel and Weststrate combined for multiple stuffs, and the duo ended the second with an assisted block. Through two the visitors had 13 total blocks, compared to five for Manitoba.
 
Bisons head coach Arnd 'Lupo' Ludwig moved Weekes to the right side in set three, bringing Kai Boyko into the game on the left, while offering up a variety of takes for captain Spencer Grahame. The decision paid off, as Manitoba took the third 26-24 in extras.
 
Weekes blasted three powerful line shots from the back row, while Grahame came alive with his best set of the early season, smashing six key kills. He finished with a game-high 18 to lead all players.
 
With Manitoba down 15-10, Grahame helped will his side into the lead to secure momentum, smashing a kill from the left off a double block and another down the line to narrow UBCO's lead to one off a strong serving run from Boyko.
 
Later, Grahame gave his side the lead with back-to-back kills, a tip into the pot and a lethal line shot, and he ended the set for Manitoba three points after with a blast off hands. The set ended was aided by sprawling digs from Jordon Heppner and Weekes.
 
Seven of the first ten points in set four were produced by blocks, as the two sides kept putting up a brick wall. Overall, there were 14 blocks in the fourth.
 
Manitoba took a 5-0 lead, including back to back assisted blocks from Weekes and Dueck, but UBCO responded. An untimely break in action due to a blood timeout went in the favour of the Heat, who scored five in a row, including back to back blocks from Weststrate and Manuel.
 
Later, Weststrate and Woelders combined for an assisted block as the Heat took a four-point lead and didn't trail the rest of the way. Manitoba battled back to make the score 24-22 off an assisted block from Weekes and Dueck, but UBCO had the response, ending the game two points later on a Zach van Geel block.
 
Manitoba remains at home next week, hosting UBC while UBCO travels to play Regina.