BRANDON, Manitoba – The Trinity Western Spartans earned a weekend split with the Brandon Bobcats by rebounding with a dominant 3-0 win over the Bobcats Saturday night at the Healthy Living Centre in Brandon, Man. The 25-21, 25-22, 25-14 win improves the Spartans to 9-5, while the loss drops the Bobcats to 2-13.
 
Fifth-year middle Kaylee Plouffe (Sherwood Park, Alta.) with 17 kills, seven digs, and five blocks, and one ace, and second-year outside Sienna Driedger (Grunthal, Man.) had a career best eight service aces in the match to go with nine digs and five kills led the Spartans. Stephanie Miller with 10 kills and 10 digs, and Maddy Hettinga with seven kills and four digs led the Bobcats.
 
TWU second-year setter Tayana Dmitruk (Surrey, B.C.) ran the Spartan attack, finishing with 33. Brandon's Carly Thomson finished with 25 set assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will remain on the road next week, heading to Kelowna, B.C., to take on the UBC Okanagan Heat on January 22-23. Match times are set for 5:30 p.m. (PT) and 4:30 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans took control of the match right from the start as they jumped out to a solid 16-8 lead in the opening set. The Bobcats cut the lead to two points, 19-17, before the Spartans finished the set with the 25-21 win. TWU hit at .227 (14-4-44), while Brandon hit at .243 (13-4-37).
 
The second set was even throughout the game. The Spartans looked to run away with a 17-13 lead, but the Bobcats got back to even at 18-18. TWU got separation at 22-20, before closing out the set 25-22. The Spartans hit .314 (15-4-35), while the Bobcats hit at .303 (14-4-33).
 
The Spartans dominated the final set, jumping out to a 16-6 lead. TWU expanded the lead to 13 points, 22-9, before closing out the match, 3-0, and the set 25-14. TWU finished the match hitting at .478 (12-1-23), while Brandon finished at -.037 (6-7-27).
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans finished the night hitting at .314 (41-9-102), while the Bobcats finished at .186 (33-15-97).
• TWU had the edge in blocks 7-3 and service aces 13-2. While Branson led in digs 43-41.
• The Spartans are currently 36-7 lifetime against the Brandon Bobcats.
• Last year, the Spartans swept the Bobcats, winning in straight sets both nights on October 24-25 at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.
• Last night the Spartans lost 3-1 to the Bobcats. TWU's first loss in 24 conference matches.

 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as in the NAIA in track and field and cross country and as an independent team in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 33 Canada West team championships.

About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in U SPORTS. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  
 
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