The MacEwan University Griffins men's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (25-16, 25-19, 17-25, 25-22) decision to the University of Manitoba Bisons on Saturday afternoon at City Center Gymnasium.

The Bisons closed with a 14-4 run to take the set 25-16. Ken Rooney led the way for the Bisons with four kills and four block assists, while the Griffins struggled to find their momentum.

With six team blocks, the Griffins stayed close for the first half of the set, however, much like the first set, the Bisons pulled away late. Devren Dear and Dustin Spiring paced the Bisons attack with four kills apiece.

The Griffins went on a 6-1 run early in the third set, building a six-point lead. Unlike the first two sets, the Griffins were able to hold off the Bisons late push to take the set 25-17. Matt Mohler ran a more efficient Griffins offence, picking up 11 assists in the set.

A late fourth set rally by the Griffins fell just short as the Bisons held on for the 25-22 set win. Dear added four kills in the fourth to finish the match with a game-high 13 kills.

Lee Iverson provided a spark off the bench for the Griffins with six kills and four block assists to earn player of the game honours. Rooney finished the game with seven kills and six block assists to earn the honour for the Bisons.

The rematch takes place Sunday afternoon with the match scheduled for 2:00 p.m.