November 10 - The seventh-ranked UBC men’s volleyball team had two set points in the second and three in the third, but it was the fifth-ranked Manitoba Bisons who came away with the victory Friday night at War Memorial Gym, topping the T-Birds 3-0 to spoil their home opener (25-19, 26-24, 27-25).

Last year’s CIS bronze medallists took the opening frame 25-19, pulling away from UBC with a quick 4-0 run at 12-all. Eleven unforced errors dotted the first frame, a theme that continued the whole night, as UBC hit for just 7.7 per cent and Manitoba was only marginally better at 17 per cent. The teams combined for 20 service errors. The closest the T-Birds got it in set one was 21-19, but a kill from Toon van Lankvelt kept the Bisons in the driver’s seat.

UBC recovered from an early 11-6 deficit in set two and jumped ahead 20-17 on a pair of Manitoba miscues. Leading 24-22, the T-Birds couldn’t even the match, with Matt Balchin pulling the visitors within a single point, and an Andrew Bonner error tying the count. A van Lankvelt kill and another Bonner error closed out the set.

The third frame was disturbingly similar for UBC, who surged ahead 24-21 on a Christoph Eichbaum kill, only to watch their lead evaporate on a pair of van Lankvelt attacks and two missed attempts from Eichbaum. Josh Klassen and Jeff Zylstra came together to block Bonner for the final point.

Balchin and van Lankvelt picked up a match-high 10 kills apiece with Balchin adding seven blocks and Zylstra recording eight as the Bisons outblocked UBC 14.5-9.5.

For the Thunderbirds, Eichbaum and Bonner each had eight kills on off nights, while Ian Simpson was a bright spot with five kills and five blocks.

Manitoba improves to 1-1 in conference, while the Thunderbirds drop to 2-3.

The same two teams do battle Saturday night at around 8:00 p.m.

Complete stats...