EDMONTON – The Bobcats lost a heart-breaking match to the Trinity Western Spartans Friday, effectively ending the 'Cats season after this weekend, as Brandon will not advance to CIS nationals with the loss.
 
The first two sets were controlled by the Spartans, but Brandon battled back in the third and fourth sets. Trinity proved to be too much however, taking the match 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22) at Edmonton's Saville Sports Centre.
 
When the Brandon University Bobcats Men's Volleyball team and Trinity Western Spartans last played it was in Langley, BC. Home of the Spartans and it was during the regular season. The Spartans and Bobcats split that weekend series, each winning in three sets.  
 
The first set saw the Bobcats and Spartans trading kills and remaining close up until the technical time out when TWU led 16-15. Out of the break, the Spartans got three consecutive points to go up 19-16 before coach Grant Wilson called the game's first time-out. Out of the time out the Spartans went on a 6-3 run to win set one 25-19.
                 
In the second set the Bobcats didn't fare much better as the Spartans jumped to an early 6-2 lead. Throughout the set the Spartans attacked relentlessly and saw their lead go up to 16-10 at the highest point. The Bobcats tried to get back into the set but only saw them get to within four points before falling 25-19.
 
After two, the Bobcats had nine service errors.
 
Facing elimination in the third set, Bobcats co-captain Brendan White rallied his teammates.
 
 "I said 'There's no way I'm going out like this, I want to leave it all out on the floor. We have worked extremely hard to get here.' For me and the other three seniors and the rest of the team we didn't want to go out like this," said White following the match
                 
The third set saw the Bobcats come out with the motivation they started the game with, going point for point with the Spartans. At the technical time out the 'Cats led 16-15. Coming out of the break the kill for kill play continued until the Bobcats got back to back points to go up 23-21. Spartans coach Ben Josephson called a time-out to try and settle his team  but that proved to be futile as the Bobcats took set three 25-21.
 
Serving for the 'Cats was much better as Steigmeier got his first of two service aces and the team only had two service errors in the third set.
 
Del Bianco added four more kills in the third set for the Spartans, taking his team leading total to 12.   Through three sets TWU's blocking proved to be superior over the Bobcats with 28 to the Bobcats seven.
 
The fourth set saw the Spartans struggle early with errors, whether it was serving into the net, hitting the ball twice, or carrying. The errors proved to be costly as they went down 8-3 early, which is when Spartans Coach Josephson called a time out. It proved beneficial as TWU went on a 7-1 run to take the lead at 10-9. From there, the Spartans and Bobcats traded blows until the technical time out where TWU had a 16-14 lead. The Spartans ended up winning 25-22.
 
Steigmeier finished the game with 19 kills, two service aces, nine digs and two blocks. Tuivai had 13 kills, nine digs and two assists. Ching added 9 kills and also led the Bobcats in digs with 18, followed by Libero Jeremy Davies at 11. Setter David Stasica had two kills, 49 assists, nine digs and one block.
 
Canada West player of the year Del Bianco finished 18 kills, two service aces, nine digs, and five blocks for the Spartans.
 
The Spartans will play for Canada West Gold on Saturday and head to CIS nationals next weekend in Saskatoon.
 
The Bobcats play for Bronze on Saturday at 5:30 PM MT against the UBC Thunderbirds. The game can be seen live at www.bran.canadawest.tv.