On paper it was a mismatch.
On the court, however, Friday’s Manitoba-Winnipeg women’s volleyball clash before about 2,000 spectators at Investors Group Athletic Centre had a playoff vibe.
There was plenty of pushback from the underdog Wesmen.
BROOK JONES / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Bisons’ Ella Gray spikes the ball while Selva Planincic of the Wesmen attempts a block Friday during second-set action.
When they were done, however, star left side Raya Surinx had collected 16 kills and five service aces to power the No. 3-ranked Bisons to a 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-13, 25-8) triumph over their crosstown rivals.
“Obviously there were ups and downs in the match but we just kept pushing through,” said Manitoba’s Ella Gray, who chipped in with 10 kills and seven digs. “I think we were a bit nervous (in the second set). I know we weren’t settled but I think we found a really good way to settle by the third set.”
Eve Catojo supplied eight kills for the winners.
Jaya Dzikowicz and Selva Planincic had 11 kills each to lead Winnipeg while star freshman left side Brooke Duncalfe did not play due to illness.
“It’s funny,” said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley. “I’ve been in these things, including my time at Winnipeg, for 42 years and there’s always that extra sauce when we play each other, regardless of where the teams are in the standings. It just is. It’s just always present.
“I thought we played better as we went along but they stayed in the fight and we fully expected that. We were totally aware of their scrapiness and tenacity. They played some amazing defence and we just had to keep hitting and be persistent.”
Manitoba improved to 16-3 in Canada West while Winnipeg, currently below the playoff line, fell to 6-13.
“They’re one of the top teams in Canada and we stayed with them for two sets but as you can see in (sets) three and four, if you don’t bring your A-game, they can roll over on you pretty good,” said Winnipeg head coach Phil Hudson, who estimated his team will need to win four of its five remaining games to qualify for the conference playoffs.
In men’s action, Winnipeg received 10 kills, three digs and two service aces from left side Nigel Nielsen en route to beating Manitoba 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20).
The Bisons were off to a rousing start, leading 10-6 in the opening set, before seven serving errors allowed the Wesmen to rally.
“It was definitely an impactful part of the game for both sides,” said Nielsen, whose squad improved to 12-9. “We both could’ve made a lot more serves I think but sometimes that’s just the way it goes. You’ve going after serves and trying to put one in to get the other team in trouble. I contributed to that (problem) on my side as well today.”
Manitoba, now 11-8, finished the game with 19 service errors and two aces. The visitors countered with 15 serve errors but a whopping 12 aces.
“Very simple — it was serve-receive today,” explained Bisons head coach Lupo Ludwig. “We couldn’t pass and we couldn’t serve.”
Winnipeg left side Isaiah Olfert contributed nine kills and six aces.
Spencer Grahame led the hosts with 13 kills while Jordon Heppner and Karil Dadash Adah added six kills apiece.
Dadash Adah, a member of the Iranian junior national team who transferred to the U of M last month, was used sparingly after missing the week of practice with illness.
“We had to protect him a little,” said Ludwig. “We had to make sure we don’t overuse him.”
The teams will continue their playoff push today, with the men scheduled for 5 p.m. and the women’s game to follow at 6:45 p.m. at Duckworth Centre.
“It always feels good with all the hometown stuff going on but the work’s not done,” said Nielsen. “We can’t get too excited about it yet. We’ve still got another game tomorrow against a very good team and another couple of games coming up on the weekend after that, so we’ll save the celebrating until we’re done.”
The crosstown rivals also have basketball on the schedule Saturday. The Wesmen women face the Bisons at 2 p.m. with the men’s game to follow at 4 p.m.
Both games are at IGAC.
