January 7 - The Manitoba Bison men’s volleyball team kicked off the New Year in style with their second consecutive Excalibur Volleyball Classic tournament title at York University on Sunday, January 7. They defeated the #3 Dalhousie Tigers 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-23) in the Sunday final.

The tournament not only had the Bisons roll through the tourney being unbeaten in five games, surrendering only three sets in total, but head coach Garth Pischke accomplished another milestone with his 1100th career victory (Semi-Final win over Laval 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 15-7)) during the tournament in his 27th year at the helm of the Bisons.

Pischke was reached in Toronto and commented about the momentous weekend, “We played very well as a team and I am pleased how we started the second half with this tournament victory. I am also happy to earn my 1100th victory but it would not even be possible to reach without the hard effort and time commitment of the countless Bison players throughout the 27 years that I have coached at University of Manitoba.”

In the Championship match, the Bisons were led by tournament MVP Toon van Lankvelt and teammate Matt Balchin who combined for 25 kills. Setter Kyle Joslin also played well and earned tourney all-star honours.

Manitoba stretched its record to 6-0 against Dalhousie in their past six meetings against the top team in the Atlantic division. Last season, the Herd beat Laval for the tournament title.

They have run the Excalibur Volleyball Classic 28 times and Manitoba has now won the event a record six times.

Bison men’s volleyball notes: #5 Manitoba returns to Canada West action this week versus the defending CIS champion Trinity Western on the road on Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13. Pischke earned his 1000th career coaching victory at Manitoba on November 9, 2003 vs. Trinity Western.

Friday, January 5, 2007

• 1pm Dalhousie 3 vs. Laval 1 (23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-21)
• 1pm Ryerson 3 vs. Anahuac 0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-13)
• 3pm York 2 vs. UNB 3 (25-13, 23-25, 27-25, 24-26, 15-8)
• 3pm Manitoba 3 vs. Queen’s 0 (25-20, 27-25, 27-25)
• 6pm Ryerson 1 vs. Dalhousie 3 (25-16, 25-21, 17-25, 25-15)
• 6pm Laval 3 vs. Anahuac 0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-12)
• 8pm York 0 vs. Manitoba 3 (25-23, 25-23, 25-23)
• 8 pm Queen’s 3 vs. UNB 1 (28-26, 17-25, 25-22, 25-14)

Saturday, January 6, 2007

• 10am Anahuac 0 vs. Dalhousie 3 (25-20, 25-16, 25-16)
• 10am Ryerson 2 vs. Laval 3 (25-20, 20-25, 24-26, 25-14, 17-15)
• 12pm York 0 vs. Queen’s 3 (25-22, 25-21, 25-19)
• 12pm Manitoba 3 vs. UNB 1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-19)
• 3pm Consolation Semifinal #1, Ryerson 3 vs. York 0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-20)
• 3pm Consolation Semifinal #2, UNB 3 vs. Anahuac 0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-12)
• 6pm Championship Semifinal #1, Dalhousie 3 vs. Queen's 0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-15)
• 8pm Championship Semifinal #2, Manitoba 3 vs. Laval 2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 15-7)

Sunday, January 7, 2007

• 10am Consolation Final, York 3 vs. Anahuac 0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-16)
• 7th & 8th Placement Matches, Ryerson 2 vs. UNB 3 (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-9)
• 12:30pm Bronze Medal Match, Laval 3 vs. Queen's 1 (25-18, 25-18, 27-29, 26-24)
• 3pm Championship Final, Manitoba 3 vs. Dalhousie 0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-23)