The Bisons women’s volleyball team had another sweep against the Saskatchewan Huskies this weekend. The Bisons won 3-0, 3-1 to complete a back-to-back win in the weekend series.
On Friday, Jan. 16, the Bisons won 25-23, 25-21, and 25-23.
In the first set, the Bisons won the first two points from attack errors, and the Huskies quickly tied the score. Both teams then went neck and neck until the Bisons scored four consecutive points from 5-6 to 9-6 to take a three-point lead. Despite the Bisons’ effort to maintain the lead, the Huskies tied the score at 14-14. The Bisons took the lead again, scoring two points each time the Huskies scored one. However, when the score was 20-16 in the Bisons’ favour, the Huskies mounted a comeback, scoring 6 consecutive points to lead 20-22. The Bisons then scored three consecutive points, all kills by Raya Surinx.
“It is definitely a bit stressful at times when they’re creeping back in, and especially since we had a bit of a lead the whole time,” Surinx, the Bisons’ skipper said regarding the Huskies comeback in the first set. “But I think, just thinking about playing Bisons volleyball and continuing to play our game, we were confident and knew that we could finish it off.” The second set began with both teams trading points from the start, after the Huskies won the first point. Despite the Huskies’ effort to create a margin, the Bisons bounced back to take a five-point lead, scoring six consecutive points from 11-12 to 17-12. The lead became too much for the Huskies to overcome, and the Bisons eventually won 25-21.
In the third set, the Bisons won the first point with a kill by Ella Gray. The Huskies swiftly responded, and at 2-2 the Bisons scored six consecutive points to take an 8-2 lead, which forced the Huskies to call a timeout.
When the game restarted, Surinx gave the Huskies their third point from a service error, and both teams started trading points again until the Bisons scored another six consecutive points to take a 21-10 lead. The Huskies kept their hope alive, scoring five consecutive points to make it 21-15.
The Bisons’ timeout broke the jinx, and the team scored their 22nd point after the timeout. After both teams traded two points, the Huskies scored six consecutive points to make it 23-22 — however, they could not stop the Bisons from winning the set 25-23.
Ken Bentley, Bisons women’s volleyball head coach noted, “The third set, we were in total command, and then they chipped away at us and made it real hard. They are ahead of us in the standings and it is our job to catch up to them.”
In the rematch on Saturday, Jan. 17, the Bisons won 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-16, 25-18) against the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The game started with Keely Anderson winning the first point for the Huskies, and Surinx’s kill immediately tied the set 1-1. There was no significant lead until it was 3-4, when the Huskies scored four consecutive points to take a 3-8 lead. The Bisons mounted a comeback, scoring five consecutive points to tie the score 8-8. Both teams went neck and neck, and the Bisons built their 18-15 lead, eventually winning the set 25-17.
In the second set, the Huskies took the first lead that was short-lived, but then scored five consecutive points to take a 2-5 lead. The Huskies maintained their lead, and they eventually won the set 19-25.
The Bisons dominated the third set, winning 25-16. The Huskies came stronger, scored the first two points, but the Bisons scored four consecutive points to take a 4-2 lead. The Bisons kept the lead and eventually won the set.
In the fourth set, the Bisons got the first point, but the Huskies tied it. The Bisons mounted a comeback, scored three points, and when the Huskies scored their third, the Bisons scored another four consecutive points to make it 8-3. The Huskies reduced the gap to 11-12. However, the Bisons kept the lead and eventually won 25-18.
The Bisons women’s volleyball team will play the MacEwan Griffins on Friday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday, Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. CT in Edmonton, Alberta.
