Wesmen earn split with Saturday’s win

BRANDON, Man. – The Winnipeg Wesmen exacted a measure of revenge Saturday, earning the home-and-home weekend series split with a 3-1 (24-26, 25-21, 25-17, 28-26) win over the Bobcats.

After Brandon won in five in Winnipeg on Thursday, the Wesmen were looking to rebound and get back in the win column and did exactly that behind a potent attack from the team’s top two outside hitters.

Nigel Neilsen put up a match-high 16 kills while Daniel Thiessen finished with a double-double, registering 15 kills and 13 digs.

The Wesmen dropped the first set but led for the majority of the remaining three sets, although Brandon managed to force extra points in the fourth.

Struggles from the service line hurt Brandon all night, putting up 18 errors from the line with just two aces.

The Wesmen weren’t much better serving, but managed to hit .232 as a team.

Brandon was led by Max Brook and Philipp Lauter, who put up 11 kills each.

Senior setter Jake Fleming had a match-high 43 assists.

The win improves Winnipeg’s record to 7-5 while Brandon falls to 5-7.

The two teams meet again on February 17 back at the Healthy Living Centre to start another home-and-home series.

In the meantime the Wesmen will travel to Saskatoon to play the Huskies next weekend while the Bobcats will enjoy a bye weekend.