Written by: Kelly O'Donnell, Bison Sports
MANITOBA - The Bison women's volleyball team opened up the 2017-18 Canada West season by winning three straight sets (25-20, 25-23, 25-17) in their first match against the Brandon Bobcats at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday, October 20, 2017.
Both teams saw great offense with Kearley Abbot leading the Bisons with a total of 23 kills throughout the three sets, and Laura Findlay following close behind with 17 kills.
"Anytime you win a home opener, you're pretty happy," said Ken Bentley, head coach of the Bisons, "We go in every match expecting to win. There were a lot of nerves on both sides."
The two teams took some warming up as the first set saw many missed serves and hits out of bounds from both teams.
Halfway through the first set things changed when Bison power players Kearley Abbott and Findlay decided to pound the ball, with Kearley Abbott earning 5 kills, and Laura Findlay with three kills. Bobcats left side players Ravyn Wiebe and Nikala Majewski pounded back; Wiebe with three kills and Nikala Wajewski with four kills in the first set.
The Bobcats called two time-outs during the final five points of the first set after the home team took the lead, 23-19. Bisons player Emily Erikson finished the final two points of the set with two big blocks, bringing the final score of the first set to 25-20 for the Bisons.
The second set saw a similar theme, with both teams playing point for point. Kearley Abbott controlled the set for the Bisons with her mix of full powered spikes and well-placed roll shots. Bisons left side Tori Studler crushed the ball as well, with 7 kills in the second set.
Kearley Abbott brought the score to 21-19 for the hosts when she blocked a hard hit from the Bobcats player, Majewski.
Bobcats evened out the score to 21 -21 following a left side hit from Bobcats left side, Majewski. Bobcats called three timeouts during the final seven points of the set.
Things were looking up for the Bobcats when Wiebe came in with a power kill, but missed the next serve, causing the home team to take the second set with a score of 25-23.
The third and final set began with Bisons power Kearley Abbott rolling several hits into the pot on the Bobcats side.
Bobcats took the lead back 10-8 after their setter, Mary Thompson dumped the ball to the back of the Bisons court.
The third set saw the home team take a five-point lead halfway through the third set, leading 16-11. Bobcats left sides Majewski and Wiebe fought back hard on offense after several time outs.
The Bisons kept their run, and finished the third and final set 25-17 with a hit from Bisons power player Findlay that slipped past the Bobcats.
"Laura Findlay took some really hard swings when we needed them," said Bentley.
The two teams will face off 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.