(By University of Regina Sports Information)
REGINA – Kearley Abbott and Josie Abbott led the Manitoba Bisons to a three-set road victory over the Regina Cougars on Saturday night in a Canada West women's volleyball match at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.
The twin sisters combined for over half of Manitoba's kills in the win. Kearley led all players in both kills (11) and digs (15), while Josie finished with nine kills and seven digs.
The win puts the finishing touches on a huge late-season sweep for the Bisons, as they also defeated the Cougars in three sets on Friday night. The two wins pull Manitoba up to 11-11 on the season, and the Bisons will lock up a Canada West postseason berth next weekend if they can pull out a home victory over top-ranked UBC Okanagan. Manitoba could also back into the playoffs even if they lose twice to the Heat next weekend, but would need some help on the out-of-town scoreboard.
Saturday's match opened up with a seesaw battle in the first set which saw the Cougars take a 16-12 lead into the technical timeout, but it was all Manitoba after that. The Bisons took 11 of the next 13 points after the break, and closed out the set after a Laura Findlay kill made the final score 25-20. The second set was all Bisons, as the visitors led from start to finish and took a commanding lead in the match with a 25-15 victory.
The third set also looked like it would be all Manitoba, but the Cougars regrouped after head coach Melanie Sanford called a timeout after the Bisons jumped out to an 8-2 lead. Regina chipped away at the lead and three late points drew the two teams even at 23-23. The Cougars successfully evaded Manitoba's first attempt at match point with a Diana Lumbala kill, but Josie Abbott and Emily Erickson teamed up for a block on Lumbala on the Bisons' second match point to give Manitoba the victory.
Besides the offence contributed by the Abbott twins, Manitoba also got seven kills from Findlay and six more by Jocelyn Koswin. Brittany Habing added 32 assists and 11 digs for a double-double.
Jessica Lerminiaux's 10 kills led Regina offensively, while Ashlee Sandiford finished with nine kills and 11 digs. Taylor Ungar had a team-leading 13 digs, with setter Satomi Togawa collecting 30 assists, five digs, and three kills.
The Cougars (12-12) become the first Canada West team to finish the conference schedule, as the other 12 teams in the league are all in action next weekend. Regina hasn't yet clinched a playoff spot, but will head to the postseason for the first time since 2014 if any of the three following things happen next weekend: UBC Okanagan wins twice over Manitoba, Calgary wins twice over Mount Royal, or Alberta defeats Brandon at least once.
Manitoba and UBC Okanagan will meet next Friday and Saturday night at the Investors Group Athletic Centre in Winnipeg.