By Paul Cartledge
EDMONTON – The No.8 University of Alberta Golden Bears made quick work of a struggling No.3 University of Manitoba Bisons team, claiming a second consecutive straight-sets victory (25-18, 25-20, 25-19) to complete the weekend upset and get their sixth-straight win, Saturday night at Saville Community Sports Centre.
Team kill leader Taryq Sani and fourth-year left side Alex McMullin netted a dozen kills each, Sani adding one ace and a game-high nine digs while McMullin scored two aces. Fourth-year setter Luke Brisbane recorded a team-high 40 assists.
Senior left side Adam DeJonckheere earned a team-high nine kills and 11.0 points, cracking the Top 10 in the Canada West record books with a current total of 1,307.5 career conference points. Third-year right side Kevin Negus added eight kills while rookie setter Jack Mandryk put up 28 assists.
Alberta took advantage of a rough start by Manitoba in the opening set, building a 4-0 lead off four consecutive offensive errors by the visitors before firing back at a 40% attack rate in the first frame, freshman left side Jackson Kennedy sending a big kill down the middle for the penultimate set point before combining with third-year outside hitter Carter McIntyre for a block down to the Bison side of the floor for the 1-0 set lead.
The middle set was another showcase for Sani, the sophomore outside hitter putting up seven kills but the whole team followed behind on offence, recording an incredible 18 kills in the second set, the last two coming off of Sani, catching the back corner down the sideline, and senior middle Arran Chambers, who went cross-court to end the set.
In a tight final set, a 6-1 run by the Bears when the score was 14-13 was the difference, Alberta never letting their lead dip lower than three after that and finishing off the match with four straight points, the match ending with an ace and then a kill ricocheting off senior left side/right side Scott Vercaigne and into the crowd.
The undefeated Golden Bears, now at 6-0, stay at home next weekend to host the UBC Thunderbirds while 1-5 Manitoba heads home to host the MacEwan Griffins.