MVB: Wolfpack win 3-1 in marathon match with Bisons

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons and Thompson Rivers Wolfpack went back and forth all Saturday evening, with all four sets going into the 20s. The visitors came out with a 3-1 win, aided by marathon first and third set victories of 38-36 and 27-25, respectively.
 
The win improved the Wolfpack’s record to 1-1, while Manitoba fell to 2-2.
 
The first featured a combined 12 set point opportunities, with both teams using every inch of the court to keep rallies alive. Bisons right side Karil Dadash Adeh – who led the Bisons with 14 kills – posted four kills with the score in the 20s, but he was matched by the play of Rylan Ibbetson, who had three important kills late, including back-to-back to give TRU a 37-36 lead, and eventually the set win.
 
The Bisons opened up a 16-10 set lead in the second, leaning on their serving, an area of focus in the off-season. Jordon Heppner put down back-to-back aces while Dadash Adeh added another in a 25-22 win. Defence played a factor as well, with Dadash Adeh, Kai Boyko and Jonah Dueck combining for a thrilling triple block late.
 
For the second time in the match, TRU was able to win in extras, pulling out a 27-25 victory in set three. The Bisons led 7-3 early, and had set point at 24-23 thanks to one of Dueck’s four kills, but TRU battled back.
 
Sam Flowerday had a critical kill tie the game at 24, and he ended things shortly after, with a service ace.
 
The fourth-set was also neck and neck. A 15-14 TRU lead was blown wide open with five straight points, and while Manitoba answered, so did the Wolfpack. Ibbetson smashed two of his 16 kills back-to-back to give the visitors a 3-1 win.
 
Manitoba heads on the road this weekend to take on Alberta.