WINNIPEG – The No. 10 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons secured the 34^th annual Duckworth Challenge for the Herd on Saturday night, defeating the Winnipeg Wesmen 3-1 (25-18, 25-15, 30-32, 26-24) at IGAC in front of a sold out crowd.
 
The victory gave Manitoba a 5-3 win in the challenge, with the 'Zoons earning two of those wins with a sweep of the U of W men. It's the third year in a row that the Herd have won the Duckworth trophy.
 
With the win, the Bisons improved to 8-0 in 2026, and 12-6 on the year, fourth in Canada West.
 
Playing in his final home game as a Bison, senior middle Jonah Dueck earned Duckworth game MVP honours, racking up 17 total points with nine kills (no errors), four solo blocks, four assisted blocks and four digs.
 
Dueck's final solo of the game put the Herd on match point, which they won on an error right after.
 
Fellow seniors Tyson Nachtigall (middle) and Ethan Hildebrand (left side) earned their first starts of the year and were lights out with 12 kills and 12 assisted blocks, while constants Alex Witt (setter), Eric Ogaranko (left side) and Josh Jehle (libero) also made significant contributions in their final game at home with the Herd, combining for 18.5 points, with Jehle racking up 11 digs.
 
"They all played really well. When you look at our practices, our second lineup beats our first lineup in practice. That's what people don't see," said Bisons head coach Arnd 'Lupo' Ludwig, who's known the vast chunk of his senior class since their 14U playing days.
 
"We've said all year long that we have a really deep bench, and I'm so happy that the three who came on [and started] today, that they played so well. Ethan was outstanding and Tyson. Alex had already made a couple of starts this year, so he was probably less nervous than the other two. They were all amazing."
 
The Wesmen led by two throughout the early stages of set one, keeping a variety of rallies alive with sprawling digs. But Manitoba shifted the momentum with Hildebrand at the line.
 
The serving specialist had the Wesmen on their heels with tricky offerings. Winnipeg's passing was affected, and Manitoba took advantage with back to back Karil Dadash Adeh cut shots from the right. Both were out of system, including a behind the back bump from Ogaranko, helping the hosts take an 11-10 lead.
 
Manitoba scored ten of the next 14 points en route to taking set one.
 
It was all Bisons in set two. With Witt directing the offence, the hosts played flawlessly on offence. They didn't record an error until the 26^th point, with everyone getting involved. Every starter had at least three kills entering the third as Manitoba opened up an enormous lead that they didn't give up.
 
Nachtigall got in on the fun on a deep attack that painted the back line, and Dueck and Witt combined for an assisted block to put the Herd on set point. Witt then closed things out with an ace.
 
Manitoba was extremely efficient once again in the third. They had just one error through the first 19 points, taking a three-point lead thanks to kills from Dueck and Hildebrand. But that was just the beginning of one of the craziest sets of the season in Canada West.
 
The two sides traded one-point leads in a battle that went to extras. Dueck, Ogaranko, Dadash Adeh and Witt all got in on blocks, including a monster solo from Dadash Adeh, as Manitoba was on game point six different times.
 
But Winnipeg responded, taking a 31-30 lead on an Aidan Hruska kill. They then won the set on a Bisons error that went out by inches.
 
The Wesmen had game point twice in the fourth, leading 24-22, but they couldn't finish off the Herd, who showed yet again why they are one of the deepest teams in the country.
 
Jordy Heppner came off the bench to go on a critical serving run, helping Manitoba score four points in a row to take the game.
 
Owen Weekes – who came into the game in the third set and had seven kills – got the run started and Sammy Ludwig added a solo block, followed by Dueck's block. Winnipeg then hit the ball out of play to end the match.
 
"Jordy went in cold and had three unbelievable serves. It was awesome," said Ludwig.
 
"Sammy coming in right away and getting a blocking point and running the offence, everything changed up. They sensed the frustration a little bit on the other side of the court."
 
Manitoba concludes their regular season on the road against Fraser Valley February 13-14.