January 5 - The Bison women’s volleyball team continued their winning ways to start the second half of the 2007-08 season. Manitoba went undefeated in five matches and won 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-14) against host Ottawa in the tournament final on Saturday, January 5 to win the 2008 Quality Hotel Ottawa Invitational, which ran from January 3-5.

With the tournament title, the Bisons captured their fourth consecutive non-conference tournament title this season. They have also won titles at the University of Regina Invitational, Sask Cup and Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club Invitational in
2007-08.

Bison women’s volleyball head coach Ken Bentley commented from Ottawa, “We played very well in the final and I was happy on how we finished after a long trip (Florida and then Ottawa in the last two weeks). Ottawa is a good team and we had to play hard and I think we passed and defend well during the match. Every player contributed to the win and it was great way to finish the trip.”

Manitoba earned two individual awards during the Ottawa Invitational. Setter Samantha Loewen was named a tournament All-Star and middle hitter Ashley Voth was named tournament MVP.

Overall this season, the Herd is 23-0 in five tournaments (Lea Marc Volleyball Challenge did not have a tournament final) and has only suffered one loss this season (3-2 to #2 ranked UBC on Nov. 10). Manitoba is currently on a four game conference winning streak and 13 game overall winning streak.

The #1 Bison women’s volleyball team sports a 9-1 record heading into the second half of the conference season and will resume Canada West action by hosting #7 ranked Trinity Western Spartans (8-2) on January 12-13 at Investors Group Athletic Centre. Both games will start at a special time of 1 p.m.