The Bisons women’s volleyball team kicked off the new year with a bang, securing two 3-1 victories over the Mount Royal Cougars in a thrilling weekend series. The Bisons dominated the court, showcasing their skill and determination in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

On Friday, Jan. 9, the Bisons took the court with a strong offence after losing the first set 23-25, then winning 25-15, 25-19 and 25-23. The match began with Eve Catojo scoring the Bisons’ first point, which set the tone for a competitive game. The Cougars quickly responded, and the teams traded points, keeping the score neck and neck. However, the Cougars won the first set 23-25.

The Bisons bounced back in the second set, striking first with two consecutive points and creating a four-point margin from 6-6 to 10-6. The Cougars called a timeout, but the Bisons continued to dominate, winning the set 25-15. The Bisons’ momentum carried over into the third set where they maintained a lead, winning 25-19.

In the fourth set, the Bisons jumped to a 7-1 lead, but the Cougars mounted a strong comeback, tying the score at 10-10. The Bisons regained their footing, trading points with the Cougars before securing the set 25-23 and taking the match.

Bisons star player for the night, Raya Surinx, shared, “we were wanting to reset for this semester and try to play Bisons volleyball and get back to what we know because we got kind of scrambly at the end of last semester, so [we were] just starting fresh, getting ready for playoffs.”

Surinx, whose serve and 18 kills helped the Bisons win the game, explained the trick behind her hard-to-return services. “My approach for serving would be to get a consistent serve in the court often […] but just throwing it and waiting. That’s something that I find really helps, because when you throw and go all in one motion, that’s when the ball can get behind you and you can adjust, so just being patient,” she explained.

On Saturday, Jan. 10, the Bisons continued their winning streak, winning the first and second sets 25-22, 25-15, losing the third set 22-25, and winning the fourth set 25-16. The Bisons led the first set 20-15 but faced a Cougar comeback, which was thwarted by a Bisons timeout. They regained control and won the set.

The second set recorded the Bisons’ domination as they struck the first three points and created an insurmountable margin, winning 25-15. The Cougars fought back in the third set, took the lead and won 22-25.

However, in the fourth set, the Bisons took the first three points, maintained control and closed the match with a 25-16 win.