Saturday, Oct. 30 saw the Wesmen women’s volleyball team host cross-town rivals, the Manitoba Bisons. 

While they put up a good fight, the home team Wesmen couldn’t conquer the visiting Bisons and lost three sets to one.

It was the opening match for the 2010-2011 season and the Wesmen started out strong. In the first set, the score was close. The Bisons led 8-6 going into the first timeout, but the Wesmen remained composed and capitalized on Manitoba’s errors to take over the lead with 25-23. 

Second-year Wesmen player Alicia Perry thought the team’s strong first set was a positive note in the loss.

“We had a positive start to the game,” she said. “We’re still learning and we always see improvements in how we play.”

The Wesmen continued to play well into the second set and led 8-5 at the first timeout, but the Bisons battled back.

The third and fourth sets were similar to the second – the score stayed close until the Bisons took over at the end to win three back to back sets and claim the match.

“ We allowed the Bisons to stay in the match and then take it away from our side. We have to be less generous to our opponents.

Diane Scott, head coach, Wesmen women’s volleyball

Second-year, left-side Sonia Rossy said the Wesmen’s mistakes cost them the match.

“We were inconsistent,” she noted. “Volleyball is all about consistency and at this level you can’t just give free points to your opponent.”

Head coach Diane Scott had similar observations. While she thought that there were moments when the Wesmen played very well, she also commented on allowing the opposition to take control.

“We allowed the Bisons to stay in the match and then take it away from our side,” Scott said. “We have to be less generous to our opponents.”

Now the Wesmen are turning their attention to preparing for their games next weekend when they will take on the Calgary Dinos in Alberta. 

With the season now underway, games count toward playoff standings. The Wesmen are looking to build on the positives from last weekend to beat Calgary in their home gym, according to second-year player Kaelyn Gauthier.

“We came out strong (against Manitoba), and we plan to come out the same way in Calgary, but (this time we will) stay strong throughout the match,” she said.

Published in Volume 65, Number 10 of The Uniter (November 4, 2010)