Two familiar rivals will go toe-to-toe once again this weekend at IGAC, when the No. 2 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons (16-4) welcome the Mount Royal Cougars (12-8) to town. This is the fifth different contest between the two sides since 2022-23, and will mark matches eight, nine and potentially ten during that span.

Perhaps the most notable of the two teams' recent battles came at nationals in 2023. The Cougars had Manitoba's number all throughout that season, going 4-0 against their prairie opponent, but the Herd earned redemption when it counted, winning a five-set battle to advance to the national semi finals.

For Manitoba, the win marked a key period of development. Their starting roster, and group as a whole, is largely intact from two years prior, and it's been an upward trajectory ever since.

The Bisons won their first-ever Canada West title a year ago while also earning U SPORTS bronze. They went 4-0 at IGAC during their playoff run, and they'll aim for similar success against a Cougars teams that has just two roster members still present from their 2023 squad.

But don't let the records fool you, this series will be a battle.

The Cougars, paced by 6'2" Canada West All-Star Emma Boyd, and fellow middle and Winnipeg native Mya Morgan (both on the 2023 roster) are high energy and athletic. They've had success running the middle all year, with Boyd and Morgan combining for 265 kills. Overall, five different Cougars recorded over 100 kills this season, led by third-year outside hitter Bronywn Davies-Neira's 181.

At the service line, Boyd put down 43 aces, second in Canada West, while the Cougars racked up 147 aces as a team, which tied for fourth in Canada West.

Manitoba wasn't far behind with their service pressure. The Bisons had 140 aces, paced by back-to-back Canada West First Team All-Star Raya Surinx's 43. Surinx also led the nation in kills (310) and kills per set (4.84) for a second straight year, despite missing the first two games of the season.

Fellow Canada West First Team All-Star Katreena Bentley has distributed the ball to everyone, pacing a lethal and versatile Manitoba attack with a U SPORTS-leading 775 assists, while second-team all-star Julia Arnold led Canada West with 288 digs at the libero position.

Manitoba has the fire power in the middle to match MRU as well, with Eve Catojo and Brenna Bedosky finishing first and third in the nation in hitting percentage, at .423 and .382.