Written by: Kelly O'Donnell, Bison Sports
MANITOBA - The Bison men's volleyball team came out on top of a tight match (28-26, 26-24, 25-23) against the Brandon Bobcats, winning in three straight sets at the conference home opener on Friday, Oct. 20 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
"(The team did) very good. We're a young team," said Garth Pischke, head coach for the Bison men's volleyball team, "we should be prone to making errors, but we didn't."
First set of the regular season saw the first half to be a close game between the two teams.
The lead changed when Bisons gained a four-points following a dump from left side Adam DeJonckheere, bringing the score to 19-15, and causing Brandon to take a time-out.
Brandon managed to close the gap after a one-handed set from Bobcats setter Reece Dixon went straight to middle Mason Metcalf. Metcalf's big hit brought the score to 20-19 for the Bisons, and Bobcats followed with another quick time out.
The end of the set was point for point. A kill by Bobcats Elliot Viles tied up the game at 21-21, and soon after both teams missed their serves to tie it up to 24-24.
A Brandon service error brought the score to 26-25 for the Bisons, but they immediately redeemed themselves with a big power hit from Viles, tying it back up to 26-26. Viles dominated on offense for the Bobcats with six kills.
DeJonckheere finished the first set after his big power hit slipped past the block of Bobcats Elliot Vile, ending the first set with a score of 28-26. DeJonckheere led the home team in the first set with 12 kills.
Matt Powell started off the second set with a huge power hit, followed by two shanked sets off the serve from the Bisons, bringing Brandon to a three to nothing lead.
The Bisons took back the lead, with their middle player Dustin Spiring bringing the score to 7-4 with a backwards dump.
The home team continued to lead for most of the second set, but gave worry when the Bobcats brought the score back up with two big blocks from their middle, Daven Pascal, who closed the gap to 15-13 for Manitoba.
Bobcats continued their theme of closing the gap, as Daven Pascal brought the score to 24-24 after two big blocks.
A carry ball from the Bobcats and a big power hit from Owen Schwartz finished the second set with a score of 26-24 for the home team.
Once again, DeJonckheere of the Bisons and Viles of the Bobcats dominated the set, with 14 kills for DeJonckheere and 11 for Viles.
The teams battled point for point in the third set. Bobcats Daven Pascal hit a party ball after a determined dig from Reece Dixon went right to his hand, keeping the score tied at 15-15.
The gap only widened after setter for the home team after setter Jack Mandryk had a successful pancake dig, leading the score 20-18.
Scott Vercaigne brought the hosts back on top to 22-18 after two consecutive huge power hits.
The home team fought hard on defense in the final points of the third set, with one dig coming successfully off the face of Spiring.
The Bisons won the set 25-23 following a messy couple of points, including a missed serve and middle hit from the Herd, and confusion at the net for the Bobcats.
Coach Pischke said he thought DeJonckheere stood out, as well as power Scott Vercaigne. DeJonckheere finished the match with 42 kills throughout the three sets.
Manitoba will play the Bobcats play again tomorrow night (Sat., Oct. 21) at 6 p.m. CT at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The match can be seen live on CanadaWest.TV.