| Thompson Rivers 3, Manitoba 1 |
January 26 - The University of Manitoba Bisons mens volleyball team will be looking for some major revenge on Saturday. The ‘Zoons dropped a disappointing 3-1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-20, 25-18) decision to the visiting Thompson Rivers Wolfpack Friday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre in their first home game since the holiday break. Toon van Lankvelt led Manitoba hitters with 15 kills and Josh Klassen topped servers with four aces, however the ‘Zoons were no match for the surprising Wolfpack offence, which combined for 53 kills on the night. Manitoba led 16-12 at the first technical, but the ‘Zoons got an unexpected jolt from the Wolves after that short break. Thompson Rivers swung with precision and force to claw back and rally all the way to a 25-21 first set. The Bisons struggled again at the start of the second, but got some hard hitting from van Lankvelt and Nathan Toews for an increasingly easy second set. Manitoba led exclusively after the second technical of the set and took off for a six-point margin to take the second and split the game in half. The Zoons’ momentum carried through to the start of the third set, but the Woflpack clawed back again to tip them 25-20 and gain some major confidence for the fourth. Manitoba once again led early, but was the victim of a Thompson Rivers surge after the first few points of the ultimately final set. Despite some stellar offence by van Lankvelt, the Bisons could not pull it together enough to hold on and fell – just like the night started – in a 25-18 decision. The Bisons take a second shot at the Wolves Saturday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre. |