November 16 - The No. 1 ranked University of Manitoba Bisons moved to 6-1 on the season Friday with a 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 27-25, 25-10) defeat of the Simon Fraser University Clan women’s volleyball team. With the loss the Clan drop to 0-6 on the season. The two teams will rematch tomorrow night at 7 pm.

Manitoba opened the first game on fire, breaking out to an 8-2 lead at the first break. The strong service game of Colleen Douville (Creston, B.C.) brought the Clan back within two points at 9-7; however the Bisons again began to pull away, winning the game 25-18 on a block by Samantha Loewen (East ST. Paul, MB) and Ashley Voth (Winnipeg, MB).

The Clan started the second game much better, leading 6-2 after a block by Stephanie Senges (Surrey, B.C.) and Sarah McNeil (Prince George, B.C.). Manitoba battled back, and looked to be in the driver seat after taking the lead on a Sarah Morrissette (Winnipeg, MB) kill to put the score 19-18 for Bisons. A block by Douville and Hope Wirill (Regina, SK) brought the Clan back on top at 21-20, and Simon Fraser held on to win the game at 25-22.

In the third game Manitoba led at the first break and appeared to be in control after an Ashley Voth (Winnipeg, MB) kill (8-5). The Clan however rallied, utilizing Douville’s strong service game to retake the lead at the second break 16-13. Simon Fraser stretched their lead to game point at 24-22, however the Bisons refused to quit, and used two Amy Matthews (Winnipeg, MB) kills to win the third 27-25.

The loss of the third deflated the youthful Clan team, and the No.1 ranked Bisons took advantage, leading 8-5 at the first break, then rolling to a 16-7 lead at the second break and finally defeating SFU 25-10 off five straight points on Loewen’s serves.

Matthews led the way for the Bisons with 12 kills, while Loewen had 30 set assists. Samantha Barnes (Winnipeg, MB) led Manitoba with 16 digs.

For the Clan, Krystyna Adams (Richmond, B.C.) and McNeil each had 13 kills, while Senges had 31 set assists. Libero Laura Mireault (North Vancouver, B.C.) led the way for SFU with 19 digs.

Complete statistics...