WINNIPEG – The No. 2 Trinity Western women's volleyball team wrapped up a weekend sweep of the Manitoba Bisons with a 3-1 (25-17, 28-26, 17-25, 25-15) win Saturday at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

On the strength of 16 service aces and a .233 hitting percentage, the Spartans earned their fourth win in a row to improve to 17-1 on the season. The loss dropped the Bisons to 2-14.

Sophie Carpentier (Ottawa) led TWU with 17 kills and 12 digs while Elly Wendel (Caronport, Sask.) put up 14 kills and four aces for the visitors. Setter Nikki Cornwall (Coquitlam, B.C.) had 40 assists to go with a team-high 13 digs. Kristin Anton (Prince George, B.C.) had a team-high four blocks and five aces.

Tori Studler and Kalena Shulz each had 10 kills for Manitoba while Caleigh Dobie had a match-high 14 digs.  

"I'm very pleased we were able to come into Manitoba and come away with a weekend sweep," said Spartans coach Ryan Hofer. "It's always tough to come into someone else's gym and get two wins. Full credit to Manitoba as they made some adjustments tonight that put a little more pressure on us and made us really work for it. With that, I think the team dug themselves into a couple of holes and it really tested their mental fortitude."

The first set started close, but TWU quickly gained the lead. The visitors earned six points on service aces, including four from Anton. The Bisons fought back with two aces of their own, but Manitoba couldn't generate enough attacks to win. Sarah Klassen led the Bison attackers with two kills in the set with only two other Manitoba players earning a kill in the first as the Spartans won the set 25-17.
 
The Bisons took an early lead in the second, but the Spartans tied the game 5-5 after a disputed bad set call against Manitoba's Sydney Booker. The Bisons fought back to regain the lead and had a 16-11 advantage at the technical timeout, but the Spartans weren't done yet. Wendel earned four aces on five serves to tie the set at 22. The teams were tied four more times before TWU took the set 28-26.
 
Manitoba took control of the third after a kill by Schulz tied the set at 9-9. The teams tied twice more before the Bisons took over and scored on five consecutive rallies. Two kills from TWU's Carpenter helped bring the Spartans within two, but it wasn't enough. Manitoba answered and cruised to a 25-17 win.
 
The fourth set was close early, but strong blocks helped TWU take over the lead. The Spartan attackers sent the Bisons scrambling across the court, while the visitors had a 16-9 lead at the technical timeout. Trinity Western held the Bisons to only six more points in the set and it was Carpentier finishing out the match with a kill.

The Spartans have a bye next weekend before resuming their Canada West schedule Feb. 5-6 when they will host UBC Okanagan.

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