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.

Complete statistics...