Box Score WINNIPEG - The Mount Royal Cougars won 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21) over the #9 University of Manitoba men's volleyball team in an evenly matched game at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday, January 17. Both teams went into the game with a 6-8 record. The Cougars now stand at 7-8 and the Bisons drop to 6-9.
 
The Cougars edged the Bisons out in the fourth a final set finishing 25-21 with a service ace from Devon van Nistelrooy.
 
"The serve and receive sets the pace and that's where we fell a little short," says Bisons head coach Cam Johnson.
 
The Bisons took the first set with ease, never letting the Cougars get ahead by more than one point, and widening the gap for the finish.
 
The second set was more of a back-and-forth until Mount Royal pulled ahead with outside players Colton deMan and Riley Friesen putting up points in a big way for their team. For the whole set they scored four and three kills respectively and Friesen earned a service ace.  Middle Grigor Kartev played strong defense and earned four points with block attacks. The end saw long serves from both sides and the Cougars won the set with a service error from the Bisons.
 
Mount Royal won the third by holding strong when the teams tied, never letting them break out in front. Devren Dear fought hard alongside Kevin Falconer to score as they threw down five and six kills respectively. Unfortunately for the Bisons it wasn't enough and Mount Royal won the set 25-21.
 
Manitoba player Devren Dear shone with 22 total kills. His teammates Adam DeJonckheere and Kevin Falconer both got 11. Cougar Colton deMan came in second for the game with 12 kills.  Mount Royal player Riley Friesen got 11.  
 
The Cougars and the Bisons will play again Saturday, January 18 in the final game of this weekend series. The game is at 7 pm CT at Investors Group Athletic Centre.