REGINA — The University of Manitoba Bisons continued their strong start to the Canada West women's volleyball season with a pair of straight-set victories over the Regina Cougars this weekend.
Manitoba opened the weekend with a commanding 25-15, 25-17, 25-15 victory on Friday before completing the sweep with another 3-0 win Saturday, taking the second match 25-15, 25-17, 25-17.
The weekend sweep improved Manitoba's record to 4-2.
The Bisons controlled play from the outset Friday, hitting .274 as a team while limiting Regina to a -.032 attack percentage. Manitoba posted 37 kills and 10 total blocks in the one-sided victory.
Selma Hodne led the attack with nine kills and seven total blocks, while
Bethany Carter added nine kills on a .409 hitting percentage and nine digs.
Jersey Hansen-Young contributed eight kills and two service aces, while setter
Julia Martens recorded 30 assists and four block assists.
Manitoba's defence was equally effective, holding Regina to just 22 kills while forcing 25 attack errors.
Chelsea Siebenga led the backcourt with 11 digs.
The Bisons were even more efficient in Saturday's rematch, posting a .310 hitting percentage while again holding the Cougars below .100 offensively at .082.
Carter paced Manitoba with 12 kills, seven digs and a service ace. Hodne added 10 kills while hitting .692, and Lucy Jurgensen chipped in nine kills. Martens directed the offence with 31 assists, while Siebenga recorded 13 digs.
Aviendah Plett made an impact from the service line with three aces and added three block assists as Manitoba controlled the match from start to finish.
Over the two matches, the Bisons won all six sets and did not allow Regina to reach the 20-point mark in a single frame. Manitoba out-hit the Cougars .292 to .025 across the weekend while combining for 76 kills and 15 service aces.
Carter, Hodne and Jurgensen provided a balanced offensive attack throughout the series, while Martens consistently distributed the offence as Manitoba completed its second straight road sweep.
The Bisons return home next weekend looking to build on a stretch that has seen them win four consecutive matches.
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