The U of M Bison women’s volleyball team celebrates winning the CIS national championship in Regina against UBC on Sunday, March 2, 2014. (CIS-SIC.TV)
The Manitoba Bisons are national volleyball champions after the women’s team defeated the UBC Thunderbirds on Sunday.
In a 3-0 match in Regina, the Herd upset the #1 seed and six-time defending CIS champs 25-22, 25-22 and 25-20.
“We passed very well and Caleigh (Dobie) played very well as our overall defence was amazing and our passing was there. We were able to attack different zones and not get UBC on a roll,” Bison head coach Ken Bentley said.
The win is the seventh CIS championship in the Bisons’ history since the 2001-02 season.
“It’s like the song ‘feels like the first time’ and we have been so close for some many years. It feels really good to be healthy and be able to get another shot at a CIS championship as it is so hard to win now and really proud of the whole team effort.”
Manitoba’s Rachel Cockrell was named the championship MVP after registering a match-high 18 kills on 34 attempts in the final with just one error for a .500 hitting percentage. Cockrell was also in on five blocks for the Bisons.
Taylor Pischke finished with six kills and six digs for the new champs, Brittany Habing recorded a match-high 28 assists to go along with five blocks, while Emily Erickson and Jordana Milne posted six blocks apiece. Pischke and Habing accompanied Cockrell on the tournament all-star team.
The Bisons also snapped an 18-game match streak against UBC dating back to the 2007-08 season.
In the bronze medal game, Laval defeated Dalhousie 3-1.
The winning @umbisons women’s volleyball team – 2013-14 CIS women’s volleyball champions with the trophy!…#champs pic.twitter.com/H4QOPIIeZX
— Bison Sports (@umbisons) March 3, 2014
— With files from Bison Sports
