Bisons dictate play, beat TWU for the first time in nine years, 3-0

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons made a serious statement on Friday night at IGAC, sweeping the Trinity Western Spartans 3-0 for their first win over TWU in nearly a decade. The Bisons improved to 5-6 with the win while Trinity fell to 7-4.
 
The story was service pressure, as Manitoba – the nation’s best serving team – put down ten aces, while TWU had eleven service errors. Right side Karil Dadash Adeh and middle Jordon Heppner combined for seven aces, with the latter’s 25 on the year being a career high.
 
Manitoba’s play at the back line led to an incredible showing on the block. As a team, the Herd had 14 total team blocks and 26 assisted overall. Jordon Heppner recorded a season-high eight, while Sammy Ludwig had a career-high six.
 
“We dominated in the serving game, which brought us into blocking. It was probably our best blocking match so far this year. It was huge today for us, and the aggressiveness was there,” said head coach Arnd ‘Lupo’ Ludwig.
 
“It’s my first win against Trinity, so of course it’s huge, but I think when you look at them, they’re missing a couple of key players. Their best middle blocker is not here. I think what we did really, well, was making sure they didn’t gain any confidence. Volleyball is all about confidence, and they were lacking this today, I’m sure they will come out differently tomorrow. They are still a very good team with a lot of good players.”
 
Owen Weekes, a true freshman, also made his first career U SPORTS start, putting down a career-high eight kills and a personal best five assisted blocks in the win.
 
“It was really exciting, getting the opportunity to play in a game like this in the second half against a good team,” said Weekes, who suited up at left side after previously playing the right side position for Manitoba.
 
“Having the belief of the coaches in me is an awesome feeling, and the guys trusting me. Having that confidence when you’re out there is good. I was a bit jittery at first, but once I got going it was lots of fun.”
 
The Spartans were led by six kills and two aces from Kyden Dmitruk.
 
Eleven different players recorded a kill in a back-and-forth first set that was decided in part by service pressure.
 
The Spartans surged to a two-point lead multiple times, thanks to aces from Dmitruk and Anselm Rein, but the Bisons – who entered play leading the nation with 2.39 aces per set – had the answer.
 
Dadash Adeh and Heppner,  first and fourth in the country in aces, with 25 and 22 respectively entering play, went to work, combining for three aces for the hosts.
 
A Heppner ace tied the first at eight, and Dadash Adeh joined the party with the Bisons up 16-14, forcing a TWU timeout.
 
Heppner once again seized momentum for the Herd in the latter stages of the set, putting down his second ace through the seam to give Manitoba a 21-18 lead. A Spartans error at the net eventually gave the Bisons the set, 25-20.
 
The Bisons stole the show in set two, continuing their relentless play at the service line. Dadash Adeh and Heppner added another ace each, while Spencer Grahame painted the back line with an ace of his own in a 14-point set win.
 
The host’s play at the back line forced TWU out of their transition offence, and a lethal Manitoba block made them pay, as the Spartans hit zero overall.
 
The highlight came from Weekes and middle Jonah Dueck, who blocked three Spartans attacks in a row, including a stuff that landed on the visitor’s side for a point to make the score 18-8.
 
Dmitruk continued to lead the way for TWU in the third. He put down an ace and a cross-court kill as the Spartans kept the set close. But Manitoba didn’t relent, as Weekes smashed his eighth kill, a career high, to give Manitoba a 19-15 lead and they didn’t let TWU get any closer.
 
Weekes eventually ended the match with an assisted block off a John Obi attack.
 
Both teams play again tomorrow at 5:45 pm.