WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons put on a show to open the new court at IG Wealth Management Athletic Centre Thursday night with a 3-1 win (25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18) over the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades.
Earlier in the evening, the Bisons officially marked the first Canada West competition on the facility's newly installed court. Women's volleyball assistant coach Julie Trommel, a member of Manitoba's 2001 national championship team that played shortly after the original court was installed, participated in a pre-match ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside Bisons captains Sammy Ludwig,
Aviendah Plett and
Chelsea Siebenga, while head coaches
Ken Bentley and Arnd Ludwig held the ribbon.
After opening the season with a pair of road losses at Trinity Western, including a four-set setback last Saturday, Manitoba responded with a strong all-around performance in its home opener to improve to 1-2 on the season.
The Bisons took control early, winning the opening set 25-17 behind four service aces and limiting Fraser Valley to a .065 attacking percentage. The Cascades answered in a tightly contested second set, edging Manitoba 25-23 to even the match.
Manitoba regained momentum in the third, holding Fraser Valley to a .067 hitting percentage while building a comfortable lead en route to a 25-17 victory. The Bisons then closed out the match in the fourth, using four more service aces and a strong defensive effort to secure the 25-18 win.
Bethany Carter led the Manitoba attack with 14 kills and 15 points while adding eight digs.
Jersey Hansen-Young contributed 11 kills, 11 digs and two aces for a double-double, while setter
Julia Martens recorded 30 assists, eight digs and two service aces.
Lucy Jurgensen paced the Bisons defensively with 18 digs and added five kills, while captain
Aviendah Plett chipped in five kills, four blocks and two aces.
Alexandria Haip provided three service aces and three block assists.
Serving proved to be the difference for Manitoba, which recorded 12 aces compared to six for Fraser Valley. The Bisons also held a 57-49 advantage in digs while limiting the Cascades to a .141 attacking percentage.
Aubrey Gingles led Fraser Valley with 13 kills and 15 points.
The two teams conclude their weekend series Friday night in Winnipeg.
Tickets are available now.
