The Manitoba Bisons women’s volleyball team claimed the U Sports national championship with a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Carabins on Sunday, March 16, at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The win secured the program’s eighth national title.
Bisons Take Control Early
The Bisons set the tone early in the opening set, registering 14 kills with just one error on 32 attempts for an impressive .406 hitting percentage. After a tightly contested start, Manitoba pulled away to claim the first set 25-20.
Montreal responded in the second set, taking an early lead, but the Bisons fought back and capitalized on well-placed tips to swing the momentum in their favor. Despite strong defensive positioning from the Carabins, Manitoba prevailed 25-19, recording 15 kills with four errors on 37 attempts (.297).
The third set was a battle, with the Bisons scoring the first point due to a Carabins error. However, Montreal edged out a 26-24 win, keeping their championship hopes alive. The Bisons still maintained strong efficiency, tallying 12 kills with only two errors on 29 attempts (.345).
Sealing the Championship
The fourth set saw Manitoba elevate their offensive intensity, registering 15 kills on their way to a commanding 25-16 victory. With that, the Bisons secured their national title in dominant fashion.
Three key players led the charge for Manitoba on offense. Raya Surinx delivered a match-high 23 kills, while Light Uchechukwu and Andi Almonte contributed 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
On defense, Julia Arnold anchored the team with 15 digs, while Surinx and Uchechukwu each recorded 10. Their defensive efforts were instrumental in extending rallies and keeping Montreal from regaining control.
A Historic Moment for Manitoba
Following the victory, head coach Ken Bentley expressed pride in his team’s achievement.
“This team has blown me away for the last three or four years,” Bentley said. “I’m just so proud of this group. They’ve been such a treat to coach, and they just work so hard.”
Surinx reflected on the team’s mindset throughout the tournament.
“Our focus was just playing how we play and not changing it,” she said. “At the beginning of the year, we said, ‘play this game exactly how you would play the national championship in March,’ and that’s exactly what we did today.”
Uchechukwu praised the team’s late-season performance.
“I think everyone played so great, especially in the second half of this season,” she said. “Now is probably some of the best volleyball we’ve played.”
Setter Katreena Bentley called the championship a dream come true.
“It just feels right, and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect moment,” she said. “We finally did it.”
Road to the Championship
Before the title match, Manitoba defeated Saint Mary’s 3-0 in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 14, and took down UBC 3-1 in the semifinals on Saturday, March 15.
With their latest triumph, the Bisons women’s volleyball team adds an eighth championship to its storied legacy.
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