Box Score WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons hit .286 as a team, controlling play for numerous stretches in a 3-1 win over Mount Royal (25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 25-16) on Saturday at IGAC. The victory improved their record to 8-4, moving into a tie for Trinity Western for fifth in Canada West. The Cougars fell to 2-10.
 
It was a collective effort for the Herd. Raya Surinx and Ella Gray were automatic from the left and right, combining for 27 kills with both hitting above .300. Surinx added four aces, and the Herd weather the service pressure of the Cougars, who had 13 in the game, but hit just .083.
 
Meanwhile, Bethany Carter recorded plays at key times throughout, especially in set four, while Eve Catojo was consistent at the net and closed the game out on the attack. True freshman setter Julia Martens spread the love with 34 assists.
 
"[MRU] is big, strong and athletic at the net. They certainly provided a big challenge. I was just pleased with our serve and pass game," said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley.
 
"It was really good both nights and key to our success. I thought Julia did a really good job for us, and it was great to have Ella Gray back, she certainly got better as the weekend went. Raya and Eve just kept piling it on, and I thought Beth did a great job. She's grown a lot this year from the start of the year until now. She's got a big arm and started to flex it a bit which is great. And I thought [libero] Chelsea [Siebenga] was really great too. She was just a beast, and [middle] Aviendah [Plett] did her job. It was just really solid."
 
Surinx put down two of her four aces in set one, helping the Herd to an early lead in the first set. But MRU responded at the line. Sydney Scatcherd – who had a team-leading four aces for her side – dropped one down to tie the game at 20, as the two sides fought to the final five.
 
It was the hosts who surged ahead, scoring five of the next seven points, aided by Gray and Bethany Carter. The latter recorded an ace to put Manitoba on set point, and Gray finished the first with a smash through a double block for her third of 12 kills in the contest.
 
Surinx had four kills in the first seven points in set two for Manitoba, who surged ahead early and didn't look back. They hit .550 as a team with just two errors in a commanding win.
 
Mount Royal battled back from 13-8 down in the third, taking the set 25-22. Scatcherd added a key ace during the comeback and Bronwyn Davies-Neira put down two kills late to secure the set. She finished with a game-high 14 kills for the visitors.
 
But Manitoba shut the door on a comeback in set four. Eve Catojo had three of her five total blocks in an early run, as Manitoba led 22-14 and didn't look back. Carter – who had a team-high 11 digs – offered consistency on defence and had a big important runs that led to points, and Catojo posted the set winner on the attack shortly after, finishing the game with six kills and a .308 hitting percentage.