November 10 - No less than a day after the Bisons (5-1) defeated UBC (4-1) in a thrilling five set match to hold on to their number one ranking and remain undefeated, the two teams were set to go in the rematch Saturday night at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

After giving up the first two sets, it looked as though the Bisons could have been handed their first loss of the season easily, but a heated talk from head coach Ken Bentley at the following set change sparked Manitoba to tie the game up, but it was all for not at the Thunderbirds won the match in five sets (25-21, 25-15, 19-25, 21-25, 15-8).

“I was disappointed tonight,” said Bentley. “UBC played better then us, but we didn’t play with nearly enough intensity.”

Violations and errors were the story in the early going, but when the two sides began to settle down, UBC was getting all the breaks. Two points were all that separated the teams for most of the set, going back and forth between rallying points. At the end of the set it was UBC holding off the Herd 25-22.

UBC went on a 6-2 run to start the second set capped by an unforced error, a kill landing out of bounds, from Bison setter Amy Matthew. The Birds had complete control of the set leading by as much as 10 points, taking the set 25-15.

With their undefeated season in jeopardy by the third set, the mood on the Bison bench was intense, but focused at the set change.

The Herd came out swinging in the third taking four quick points right off the hop, but by no means were they settling down. With the threat of a Bison loss looming, Manitoba was on edge for the better part of the set, which worked in their favor. It was Manitoba’s turn to catch all the breaks in this set with big kills coming from Sarah Morrissette and Matthews. The Bisons were able to stay alive, winning the 25-19 set.

At the first technical, the two teams were keeping it close in the fourth with the visiting Birds on top 8-7. Points were traded throughout the set with Manitoba finally taking the slimmest of leads at 14-12. The set went right down to the wire with Bisons coming out on top 25-21.

With the Bisons making the huge comeback, it all came down to the fifth and final set. The Birds were pulling away by the first technical, and the never looked back, handing the Bisons their first loss of the season, winning the set 15-8.

Jamie Broder lead all players with 17 kills for UBC, while Matthews and Ashley Voth tied for top Bison honours with 12 kills each.

The loss marks the Bisons first all season, and the Herd must now move forward. “This is the first match we’ve lost all year,” said Bentley “ we’ve won five championships with no undefeated seasons so far, and we need to keep things in perspective. It’s just one match.”

From here the Herd visit the struggling SFU clan in a two game set on November 16 and 17, while UBC head back home to face Saskatchewan.

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