WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons completed a weekend sweep of the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades with a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-12, 25-20) on Friday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre, improving to 2-2 on the young Canada West season.
Coming off a decisive straight-set win in Thursday’s home opener, Manitoba again controlled play from start to finish, extending its winning streak to two matches and securing all four points from the weekend series.
The Bisons set the tone early, hitting .529 in the opening set while limiting Fraser Valley’s offence to a .227 attacking percentage en route to a 25-20 win. Manitoba then took over in the second set, using strong serving and defence to cruise to a 25-12 victory before closing out the sweep with a 25-20 win in the third.
Serving and blocking were key factors throughout the match. Manitoba finished with eight service aces and 9.5 blocks while holding the Cascades to a .053 attacking percentage.
Kai Boyko led a balanced Bisons attack with six kills while hitting .500 and adding four digs. Jordon Heppner contributed five kills, two aces and a .556 hitting percentage, while Benjamin Kuhner added four kills.
Harrison Ens recorded seven points on three kills, two aces and three blocks, while Wizdom Smith chipped in three kills and three block assists. Setter Sammy Ludwig directed the offence with 22 assists as Manitoba hit .282 as a team.
Defensively, libero Mitchell Strilchuk led the way with eight digs as the Bisons limited the Cascades to 27 kills and forced 23 attacking errors.
Fraser Valley was led by Hristo Manov, who recorded a match-high 12 kills.
With the victory, Manitoba secured a four-point weekend and returned to .500 after opening the season with two losses at Trinity Western. The Bisons are now off for a week before returning home to IG Wealth Management Athletic Centre on Nov. 13 and 14. Tickets are available here.