WINNIPEG – A day after losing the conference semi-final to the defending CIS champions, the University of Alberta Pandas, The Manitoba Bisons were forced to regroup and get set for the bronze medal match against the UBC Thunderbirds, who lost to the University of Calgary in the other semi-final on Friday night.

The top three teams in the Canada West Conference Championships will receive berths in the 2008 CIS National Championships in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In the bronze medal game for the Conference Championships, the idea is simple. Win, and you’re in.

The Bisons had revenge in mind on Saturday night at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. However, UBC demonstrated why they were CIS National Champions in 2005-2006, as they took the game in five sets (19-25, 25-17, 25-18, 16-25, 15-12).

“All of our starters were in double figures, without that, we wouldn’t have won tonight.” Said UBC head coach Doug Reimer. “Now there’s a sense of relief that we’re going to Fredericton, but I also feel we have more in the tank for next week.”

The Herd started out strong with a three-point lead early in the opening set, but the T-birds responded, and kept the game close trailing by one at the first technical timeout. The set would go back and forth from there. With three lead changes before the second timeout, it looked as though this game would go down to the wire. However, Manitoba was able to pull away late in the set with seven straight kills to take the set 25-19.

UBC stunned the Bisons, starting the second set, taking four points off serves from UBC senior, Jamie Broder. The Birds would take three more points before the Herd could mount any sort of offence.  Second year middle for the Bisons, Ashley Voth, provided the offensive leadership Manitoba was looking for as she notched three straight points in the set to bring the set back to within two points. The Thunderbirds went on an 8-2 run going into the technical time out, showing why they were the CIS National champs only two years ago.  Going into the third set, we were all tied up at a set a piece as the visiting T-Birds took the set 25-17.

At the first technical timeout in the third, UBC was carrying all the momentum, leading the set 8-4. Later on, the number-one ranked Bisons brought the game back to a two-point deficit at 19-17 for the Thunderbirds, but it was short lived. The T-Birds won the set 25-18, taking a 2-1 lead in the game.

There was a sense of urgency on the Bison bench going into the fourth set, and with good reason, they were one set away from being defeated for the second time in as many nights. The Herd started the set with a 4-1 lead, and battled hard to maintain the advantage. The CIS regular season champs made sure UBC knew why they were ranked number-one as they in creased their lead to seven points late in the set. The Bisons closed the set 25-16.

With the game tied at 2 sets apiece, fourth-year middle, Erin Nieuwenburg started the final set off with an ace, knocking UBC libero, Claire Hanna to her feet. In a tight set, the Herd couldn’t get past the Thunderbirds and they took the set 15-12.

Marisa Field led the way for the T-Birds with 15 kills, while Carla Bradstock had four aces. The top Bison was Sarah Morrissette with 15 kills. Amy Matthews wasn’t too far behind with 14 kills.

“This is probably the best team I’ve assembled that isn’t going to the National Championships,” said Bisons head coach, Ken Bentley, after the game. “This is a really painful feeling, it’s a good group of girls.”

The CIS National Championships take place next week in Fredericton, New Brunswick.