The Brandon University men’s volleyball team made a statement and kept their playoff hopes alive with a massive straight sets win over the top-ranked Trinity Western Spartans on Friday night at the Healthy Living Centre.
The Bobcats got eight kills and four blocks from Frank Jones as the defending Canada West champions improved their record to 9-10 and sit in a three-way tie for sixith-place in the standings with the top seven advancing to the post-season.
Set scores were 26-24, 25-20 and 25-23.
"I think it’s a realization that everyone’s counting us out right now. Everyone said at the beginning of the year that we’re so good on paper and we’ve had our ups and downs. We’ve really come together as a team and when we’re together as a team nobody can stop us," Jones told CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston. "It’s all about peaking at the right moment and this is when our team has always been good a peaking, at the beginning of the season. It’s not always the easiest way, but we get it done and all the guys are on the same page right now."
Sebastien Steigmeier scored 14 kills and David Stasica had 30 assists for BU, both were match highs, while Sam Tuivai delivered a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs for the ninth-ranked Bobcats.
On the women’s side, the second-ranked Lady ‘Cats suffered a straight sets loss to the fourth-ranked Spartans.
Set scores were 25-21, 25-10 and 25-15.
Victoria Dakin had nine kills for Brandon, who slipped from second to third-place in the standings with a 14-5 record.
"I’m disappointed in myself in the way I prepared the team. I’m a little bit shocked on the result of the match, but I’m really excited about where we’re going from here because maybe that’s the adrenaline injection in the rear end that we need to pick up the play and realize that we’re going to be in battles the whole time," said coach Lee Carter.
Alexis Loewen added six kills and four blocks for BU.
The rematches go at 5 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. on Saturday at the HLC.