January 14 - The Manitoba Bisons men’s volleyball team had a very successful weekend after a 41 day layoff from conference action as they swept the #8 Trinity Western Spartans during the January 12-13 home weekend series. For his effort, fourth year setter Drew Venables was selected as the Canada West Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending January 13/08.

Venables is the third Manitoba Bisons male student-athlete to earn this conference honour during the 2007-08 season (Krister Toews – men’s hockey – for week ending Oct. 7/07 and Kristjan Hunter – men’s cross country – for week ending Nov. 11/07).

Venables played one of his best matches of the season when the unranked Manitoba Bisons men’s volleyball team swept of the #8 ranked Trinity Western Spartans during a two game series on January 12-13. Manitoba moves their record to 5-7 in 2007-08 season and vaulted into sixth spot in the Canada West standings.

In the two game series, Venables attacked as the setter with nine kills to go with his 66 assists, 11 digs, five overall blocks, and two service ace.

The fourth year setter was dominant in the middle in the first game when he produced a game-high 32 assists, five digs, three kills (.600 hitting percentage) and two blocks in the 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-18) on Saturday, January 12. In game two, Venables presence was on display as he continued to produce with a game-high 34 assists, six kills, six digs, three blocks (all solo) and two service aces in the 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22) home victory on Sunday, January 13.

This was Manitoba’s first series sweep of Trinity Western in conference action.

Venables is sixth in Canada West with 9.05 average per game in assists.