SASKATOON - The University of Manitoba Bisons showed the University of Saskatchewan Huskies exactly why they are ranked No. 1 in the CIS with a quick three set defeat (25-10, 25-21 and 25-18) Saturday night in Saskatoon.

The win moves Manitoba to 17-1 on the season and helps the team stay in the tight race for first place in the Canada West. The No. 2 ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds are at the heels of Manitoba. The first place team will earn a bye in the first-round of playoffs and will host the top four teams in the Canada West championship.

Saskatchewan drops to 3-15 on the season.

The Bisons jumped to a quick start when Erin Nieuwenburg had a string of four points to begin the set. The Huskies were never able to bounce back from the early Manitoba lead, losing 25-10. It wasn’t the start the Huskies looked for after knocking off Manitoba in the first set of Friday’s four set loss to the Bisons.

Saskatchewan started with a small lead in the second set and continued to stay strong. Shannon Usher led the charge for the Huskies. The teams traded points back and forth until they were matched at 17 apiece. But Manitoba never looked back. Rebecca Kolbenson entered the game to serve for the Huskies and earned two points putting Saskatchewan down 24-21. But she gave Manitoba the 25-21 win on a serving error.

The Huskies started the third set gunning for a win when co-captains Usher and Danae Lockert charged up their team with a block on a Sabrina Barnes kill attempt. They went on to take an early 7-2 lead. But the lead slowly evaporated as Manitoba took over the set and won 25-18.

Barnes led the Bisons with 10 kills on the night, while Usher had seven for the Huskies. Bisons Nieuwenburg, Amy Matthews and Amy Penner each had two service aces. Usher and rookie Haley Manson did the same for Saskatchewan.

The Huskies remain at home to face the Canada West last place Simon Fraser University Clan Feb. 8-9. It will be Saskatchewan’s last games of the 2007-08 season. Manitoba will head to Edmonton to face the No. 5 ranked University of Alberta Pandas.