| Bison Sports Launches New Site |
Bison Sports has moved to a new site! Please update your bookmarks. This site will continue to exist for information purposes only. No information after January 23, 2008 will be posted to this site. |
| #8 Bobcats defeat Bisons to earn weekend split |
January 19 - The old adage “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going” rang true on Saturday night at the Investors Group Athletic Centre as the #8-ranked Brandon University Bobcats (5-7) beat the University of Manitoba Bisons men’s volleyball team (6-8) in four sets (25-18, 19-25, 28-26, 25-21). The Bisons had come back to upset the Bobcats only a day earlier in an entertaining five-set thriller as they won their sixth conference game in nine attempts. The Bobcats were looking to shake off a demoralizing defeat and keep pace with their provincial rivals in the Canada West Standings and they came up with an extremely inspired effort, earning a split in the weekend series. “There’s a reason Brandon is ranked in the Top 10 in the country,” said Bisons head coach Phil Hudson. “They committed very few hitting errors after the second set and that was a major difference from yesterday.” The Bobcats were the more prosperous team in the opening set as they were ready to compete at a high level. 2nd year left side Paul Sanderson and Kevin Miller provided exceptional front court hitting for the wheat king squad, as they took the opening set 25-18. The second set started out considerably better for the Herd as they took the first three points, and swung the momentum back in their favour. Middle Joseph Brooks and left side hitter John Galloway had several stuff blocks at the net and Manitoba attacker Ryan Munt had several sneaky kills as Manitoba tied the match up with a 25-19 set victory. The third set was much tighter than the first two as each team understood the importance of winning the frame. 4th year Bison Drew Venables seemed to give the Bisons life with his trademark finger roll shot but the Bobcats won a lengthy set with impressive back court hitting. The Bobcats won the set 28-26. The fired up Bobcats capped the match off with a 25-21 set victory to send the visiting fans into euphoria. 5th year libero Spencer Hoehn of Powell River, BC was honoured before the game for his two years of contributions to the Bisons as this was his last regular season home game of the year. The statistical leaders for the Brandon Bobcats were Paul Sanderson (24 kills, 8 digs) and Kevin Miller (16 kills, .500 hitting percentage). The Manitoba Bisons top performers were John Galloway (15 kills) and Joseph Brooks (10 kills). The Brandon University Bobcats will return home in preparation for a home set with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on January 25th and 26th. Both games start at 8:00 p.m. At the other end, The Bisons will finish their regular season schedule on the road, as they will pack their bags for next weekend’s series against Thompson Rivers on January 25th and 26th. Games are at 9:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. local time respectively. |
| Bisons come back to defeat Bobcats |
January 18 - The University of Manitoba Bisons men’s volleyball team (6-7) defeated the #8 Brandon University Bobcats (4-7) on Friday night in a five-set nail biter at the Investors Group Athletic Centre (25-20, 16-25, 11-25, 28-26, 15-12). Manitoba entered the game having won five of their last eight conference games (sweep of Regina, Trinity Western and home split against Calgary). The Bisons vaulted into sixth spot in the Canada West standings with the two victories over TWU and into a tie for fourth place in the Canada West standings. With only four points separating five teams placed from fourth to eighth in Canada West standings, the Bisons were eager to keep pace with the rest of the region and the win provided them with just that. “We are a young team but we believed we could win,” said Bisons head coach Phil Hudson after the game. “We were at time inconsistent, but found our rhythm at the end. It’s a huge win for our team.” The Herd took the opening frame 25-20 with an inspired, focused effort. Offensive powerhouse Drew Venables, named Canada West Male athlete of the week on Monday continued to impress, displaying an assortment of attacking shots. 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). Derek Tyler pounded a booming attack shot past the Bobcats defense to begin the second set where he left off in the first. The Bisons began struggling mightily however as the Bobcats’ Paul Sanderson and Joel Small frustrated them, taking the set 25-16. In the third frame, the Bisons returned to the basic fundamentals that brought them success in the opening set. The only problem was Brandon had a response. The Bobcats took the set 25-11 and looked to be in unyielding control. It was do-or-die for the Bisons in the fourth set and it began well as Ryan Munt ripped off three impressive kills early. The Bisons displayed enhanced poise and composure, acing serves (Venables) and capitalizing on several turnovers with impressive tips and kills (Joseph Brooks and Stefan Bouw). The Bisons built late lead, emphasized by a gorgeous cross-court hit by Stefan Bouw but the Bobcats clawed back to tie it at 25. John Galloway sealed the deal with an un-returnable shot to buoy Manitoba into a fifth and deciding set. The Bisons weren’t going to waste an opportunity to finish the comeback as the animated home squad led most of the frame, finding points at just the right time. The Bobcats committed two unforced errors and Joseph Brooks put an exclamation point on the comeback with a stuff block to give the Herd a 15-12 set victory and the match. The crowed erupted as the Bison bench went ballistic. “It was just so big because we struggled so much in the second and third sets” said first year Bisons Dylan Sterzer. The Bisons will entertain the Brandon University Bobcats again tomorrow night (Saturday) at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The first serve happens at 8:00 p.m. local time. |
| Bison Battle for Playoff Position with Brandon |
January 17 - The men’s volleyball team (5-7) hosts the #8 ranked Brandon Bobcats (4-6) on Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19. Both games played at Investors Group Athletic Centre (IGAC) starting at 8 p.m. Manitoba has won five of their last eight conference games (sweep of Regina, Trinity Western and home split against Calgary). The Bisons vaulted into sixth spot in the Canada West standings with ten points. They are only two points behind a two-way tie for fourth place Calgary, Thompson Rivers. Only four points separates five teams placed from fourth to eighth in Canada West standings. In the Canada West season, the Bisons are seventh in hitting percentage with.235 and eighth in opponents hitting percentage at .292. The Herd is sixth in conference assists with 10.85 per game and seventh with 11.73 kills per game. Manitoba is eighth in total blocks per game with 2.01, ninth in service aces at 0.76 per game and second with 9.07 digs per game. Individually,
John Galloway is ninth in conference kills at 3.32 per game. Drew
Venables is sixth with 9.05 conference assists per game. Spencer
Hoehn is fifth and Ryan Hunt is ninth with 2.15 and 1.80 digs per
game. In team stats, Galloway leads with 136 kills, Stefan Bouw
is second with 102 kills and Munt is third at 76 kills. Joseph Brooks
and Venables are first with six service aces. Derek Tyler leads
the Herd with 39 overall blocks. |
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