October 20 - In their final pre-season tilt, the Bisons were upset by the Dalhousie Tigers in three straight sets, 25-18, 31-29, 25-23. Dalhousie came into Bison territory, and swept the weekend series with the Herd.

In the opening set, Dalhousie took the early lead, keeping the herd on their heels. The Bisons were able to pick-up their play midway through, chipping away at Dalhousie’s 7-point lead, but it wasn’t enough as the Tigers took the first set 25-18.

The Tigers continued to roll throughout the second set, but the Bisons’ nerves seemed to calm midway through the set, and kept the game close. Manitoba tied it up by the second technical timeout, and the two teams went back and forth from that point with Dalhousie coming out on top, in a marathon second set, 31-29.

It was do, or die for the Bisons in the third set, trying to avoid the sweep in the game, and the series. Not surprisingly, the Tigers brought it to Bisons early, forcing Manitoba to play catch-up. The Tigers finished the Bisons in the final set 25-23, taking the game in straight sets.

Despite the loss, head coach Phil Hudson was encouraged by his young Bisons squad’s performance. “Other than the first third of the first set, we competed with them,” said Hudson. “The other two sets went right down to the wire.”

Looking ahead to the home opener, Coach Hudson is looking to strengthen weaker areas on the team. “We’re going to change our strategy obviously, and we need to get more consistency in serving and blocking,” said Hudson.

The Bisons begin the regular season on November 2, when they play cross-town rivals, University of Winnipeg Wesmen. Game time is 7 pm at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.