WINNIPEG – The No. 3 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons and No. 5 ranked Fraser Valley Cascades combined for 123 digs in a defensive display on Thursday night at IGAC, but in the end, the Bisons were the more efficient team, hitting .269 compared to .173 in a 3-0 win (25-19, 25-23, 25-16).
 
The win was the Bisons' first over UFV in two years, and they improved their record at home to 14-0.
 
Bisons libero Julia Arnold set a Canada West three-set playoff record with 24 digs, while Light Uchechukwu, Andi Almonte and Katreena Bentley all had at least ten digs.
 
The Cascades got 13 digs from Lauren Attieh and nine from libero Emily Matsui, while Lauren and Gabrielle Attieh combined for 20 kills.  
 
After combining for 240 digs over two games earlier in the year, it's no surprise that the two sides played exceptional defence once again on Thursday.
 
The opening set included 42 digs, led by eight from Arnold and Matsui, who finished first and second in that category in the conference in the regular season.
 
Arnold had multiple one-handed digs to keep rallies alive, while Bisons setter Katreena Bentley had four digs and a key block that led to a Brenna Bedosky off-speed kill from the middle.
 
The Cascades took a 13-12 lead thanks in part to the stellar accuracy of conference all-star Lauren Attieh, who showed her crafty skill-set, going line multiple times in tight spaces, leading her side with four kills after one.
 
But a Bisons timeout from head coach Ken Bentley shifted momentum.
 
The visitors recorded two errors in a row that led to Manitoba points, and then Herd captain Light Uchechukwu posted a solo block on Talia Attieh, which lit up a loud and passionate home crowd.
 
Uchechukwu's block was part of a four-point run for the Bisons, who didn't trail the rest of the set, closing things out with an Ella Gray line shot, one of four kills in the first for the Team Canada selection.
 
The Gray kill was courtesy of a back set from Bentley, while Andi Almonte kept the rally going with a diving dig on the money to her setter.
 
Gray finished the game with 12 kills, and was named Player of the Match for Manitoba, while Uchechukwu led all players with 13 kills. Both athletes hit at least .225, while Bedosky led all players with a .700 hitting percentage in the game with seven kills and no errors.
 
The Cascades took a 4-0 lead in set two, with UFV setter Cailin Bitter running the middle to Natalie Crews in key situations. Crews had four kills entering the third, erasing multiple Bisons rallies.
 
But the Bisons had the answer in the former of Uchechukwu.
 
She and Bentley connected for five kills in the second, including three points which helped turn the momentum of the set.
 
With the score tied at 14, and also at 15, Bentley found her long-time teammate with bump sets from behind the attack line. From there, Uchechukwu used her power to blast two kills cross court.
 
Then, with the score tied at 16, Uchechukwu found Bentley right in the pocket on a pass, which led to an Eve Catojo kill from the middle.
 
The Cascades pushed back with captain Gabrielle Attieh, who showcased her veteran poise with a cross court kill, pushing the ball just inside of Manitoba's double block.
 
The kill, one of five through two for UFV, made the score 20-19 for Manitoba, and a Crews blast tied the game up one point later.
 
But it was the hosts who had the juice in the chase to five.
 
With the score 24-23, Arnold dove from the back row to ahead of the attack line, saving a ball that eventually resulted in an error from UFV to give the Herd the 25-23 win.
 
Through two sets, Arnold had 17 digs to lead all players.
 
Arnold, Bentley and Gray all dove to save an early rally for Manitoba in the third, eventually leading to an Uchechukwu kill to give the Bisons a 6-3 lead.
 
Uchechukwu followed that up with three more kills within the Bisons' first ten points, as Bentley continued to find her in advantageous situations.
 
Gabrielle Attieh continued to show her veteran savvy for UFV, putting away multiple kills, one of which was off speed into a open corner in the front row to make the score 13-8 Bisons.
 
But a well-balanced Bisons attack shut the door on any Cascades comeback.
 
Bedosky posted two kills from the middle, one on a set from Bentley where she sprinted from the back row all the way up to the net on the money, while Gray added three kills to get the Herd to 20 points.
 
In fitting fashion, match point was earned thanks to stellar defence.
 
Bentley dove with one hand from the attack line to keep the rally alive and UFV eventually recorded an error.
 
The two sides will play again tomorrow at 5 pm PT.
 
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