BRANDON – Despite struggling out of the gate in the first set, the host BU Bobcats picked up a 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-21) win over the Winnipeg Wesmen Thursday night.

Winnipeg hit .625 as a team in the first set and out-dug the Bobcats 10-4, before Brandon righted the ship in the second, third and fourth sets, en route to their second conference win of the season.

The Bobcats steadily improved in the final three sets, going from a .148 attack efficiency in the first set, to a .265 rate in the final set.

Gillian Leech had a match-high 21 digs in the winning effort, while rookie outside hitter Carmen Ross had 10 digs to go with seven kills.

Nikala Majewski led the offensive charge, registering a match-high 16 kills, while Courtney Roberts had 12 kills. Rayvn Wiebe came off the bench for nine kills on 19 swings, good for a .368 attack efficiency.

Winnipeg was led by Danika Picklyk's team-high 14 kills, while Karissa Kuhr had 11 kills and three blocks. Libero Madison Fyvie had a team-high 14 digs. 

The win moves Brandon's record to 2-7, while the Wesmen remain winless at 0-9.

The two teams will meet again on Friday in Winnipeg to conclude the home-and-home series. First serve is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Friday's contest is the final regular season match of 2016 for the Bobcats, while Winnipeg will close out the first half of the season against cross-town rivals Manitoba on December 8.