WINNIPEG – Already the school record-holder in career digs (rally scoring era), fifth-year Bisons libero Julia Arnold added another incredible accolade to her extensive list on Friday night. In a 3-1 over MacEwan, Arnold broke the program's rally scoring era record for career regular season digs, with 1,333.
 
A Volleyball Canada Next Gen selection, Arnold passed another Team Canada veteran in Cassie Bujan (2014-19), whose 1,332 regular season digs were the most prior to Friday. Arnold's total is also the second-most in the history of Canada West.
 
In her cumulative Bisons career, Arnold now has 1,707 digs, the fifth-most in school history.
 
The win improved the Herd's record to 15-4, their 13^th straight victory. They are currently second in the Canada West standings with one regular season game left. MacEwan fell to 2-15.
 
In storybook fashion, Arnold broke the regular season record during seniors weekend. She'll be honoured pre-game, in her final regular season home game, along with long-time friends and teammates Katreena Bentley, Light Uchechukwu, Chloe Ellerbrock and Julia Horne.
 
"It's kind of a testament to how long this journey has been for me," Arnold said.
 
"The team around me has really set me up for success, and coaching especially with [head coach] Ken [Bentley], he's really made me the player I am today. I think it's a bittersweet moment coming into this in our senior's weekend. I always knew I could do it, so it's kind of just awesome that I am here now."
 
"It's really special, because we've always played together, we've always worked together and for each other," added Katreena, the school's all-time record holder in career and regular season assists (3,778 cumulative).
 
"I'm just really, really proud of her, and I'm not surprised obviously. It's a testament to the work she does every single day. I'm really happy for her, she totally deserves it."
 
Arnold dug the ball in a variety of ways on Friday, as she and her teammates played spirited defence throughout.
 
The game featured 114 combined digs, led by Arnold's 20. Andi Almonte and Raya Surinx – who combined for 39 kills – added 12 and 11 digs, respectively.
 
The Griffins got 17 digs, 28 assists and three kills from setter Payron Shimoda, along with 13 digs from Kara Frith and 11 kills a piece from Arden Butler and Alyshia Bryks.
 
"Despite their record, [MacEwan] has a lot of good athletes," said Ken Bentley.
 
"I was real surprised that they are where they are. Watching their film, they're big, they're strong, they have a good setter to keep them moving. [The match] did not surprise me. We got better as we went along, it was a slower start than I would like. We found a way to keep after it."
 
The first set went back and forth with 36 combined digs.
 
Alyshia Bryks and Payton Shimoda combined for ten for GMU, while Bryks also had two kills, including one off hands that narrowed Manitoba's lead to 20-18 late. An Arden Butler ace made it 20-19, but that's when the Herd put the gas pedal to the floor.
 
Led by Arnold's five digs, Manitoba won a long rally, finished on a tip by Ella Gray. The Griffins scored just once afterwards, with Surinx putting down her fourth kill down the line for the set winner.
 
Arnold dove to the floor at one point, keeping the rally going in thrilling fashion by a one-handed save.
 
"She just never capitulates. She stays in it all the time, every day," said Bentley.
 
"She's just an amazing every-dayer, she really is. Her capacity for that is enormous. It's how she trains, the way she plays. She's been incredibly durable, and she just obviously wants to be great for her team. The result is this."
 
The Griffins refused to let the ball die in set two, leveling the match 1-1 with a 25-22 win. As a team, GMU recorded 29 digs through two, fighting off multiple Manitoba runs while staying in system, led by ten digs from Payton Shimoda.
 
Down 15-11, 18-15 and 22-19 the Bisons pushed back, with Chelsea Siebenga recording kills on two of three points to tie things at 18. An Eve Catojo and Katreena Bentley block, followed by a Bentley ace tied the game at 22, but the visitors scored the next three points to take the set.
 
Alyshia Bryks' ninth kill, off hands, followed by a GMU block made the difference to tie the match entering the third.
 
Bryks blasted her third tenth kill of the match early in the third, but the Bisons surged ahead shortly after and didn't look back. They scored five straight points to take an 8-3 lead and didn't trail by less than three.
 
Ella Gray put down a kill and an ace during the run, while Andi Almonte – who finished with a .500 hitting percentage – had three kills in four points to close out the set.
 
Anika Buys slammed down her sixth assisted block early in the fourth as the Griffins kept pace early with relentless defence. But much like the third, the Herd's depth shone as the set continued.
 
Captain Light Uchechukwu subbed in, and put down a kill, an ace and two digs, including an impressive back set, while middle Brenna Bedosky recorded five of her six kills in the third and fourth sets combined.
 
When the Griffins closed the middle, Manitoba went outside, with Surinx and Almonte combining for three late kills, with the latter closing out the game, 25-16.
 
"Andi just hit the p**s out of the ball. And it's what we needed," said Bentley.
 
"Early on in the match, our middle was amazing. And then they just started staying with them no matter what. The thing is, if people stay with our middle, they're going to get punished on the outsides too. [Setter Katreena Bentley] recognized that, and we got a lot of isolation at the pins. I think we responded well to what they were trying to do."
 
Both sides play again tomorrow at 5:45 pm.