January 15 - Women's Volleyball player, Sarah Morrissette, and Men's Volleyball player, Drew Venables , have been named the Smitty's Bison Sports Athletes of the Week for the week ending January 13/08.

Sarah Morrissette was instrumental in leading the #1 ranked Manitoba Bisons women’s volleyball team to a home sweep of the #6 ranked Trinity Western Spartans during a two game series on January 12-13. Manitoba moves their record to 11-1 in 2007-08 season and remains tied for second in the Canada West standings.

In the two game series, Morrissette was constant with 20 kills, 17 digs, four overall blocks, three assists and one service ace.

The second year left side hitter started the weekend with a eight kills, a .412 hitting percentage, seven digs, two blocks and one service ace and assist in the 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-23) sweep on Saturday, January 12. In game two, Morrissette had another strong game with 12 kills, ten digs, two blocks (solo) and two assists in the close 3-2 (25-14, 19-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-11) victory on Sunday, January 13.

Manitoba has now extended their conference winning streak to six games and has beaten three ranked teams so far this season.

Morrissette is fifth in Canada West with 3.02 average per game in digs.

#1 ranked Bisons have an 11-1 record in 2007-08 season and sit in a second place tie in Canada West heading into a home weekend series against Brandon Bobcats (4-8) on Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19. Game time for both games is 6 p.m. at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

Drew 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.

The Bisons have a 5-7 record in 2007-08 season and vaulted into sixth spot in Canada West heading into a home weekend series against Brandon Bobcats (4-6) on Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19. Game time for both games is 8 p.m. at Investors Group Athletic Centre.