WINNIPEG - The Bobcats dropped their first match of the 2017-18 Canada West season 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-17) against the host Manitoba Bisons Friday night.
Both teams saw great offense with Kearley Abbot leading the Bisons with a total of 23 kills throughout the three sets, and Laura Findlay following close behind with 17 kills.
The first set saw many attack errors and missed serves before things changed at the mid-point of the set when Bisons Kearley Abbott and Findlay heating up and scoring Abbott earning five kills and Findlay with three kills.
Bobcat left sides Ravyn Wiebe and Nikala Majewski put up three kills four kills respectively in the first set.
The Bobcats called two time-outs during the final five points of the first set after the home team took the lead, 23-19.
Manitoba's Emily Erikson finished the final two points of the set with two big blocks, bringing the final score of the first set to 25-20 for the Bisons.
The second set saw a similar theme, with both teams playing point for point. Abbott controlled the set for the Bisons as left side Tori Studler crushed the ball as well, with 7 kills in the second set.
Kearley Abbott brought the score to 21-19 for the hosts when she blocked a hard hit from Majewski.
The Bobcats evened out the score to 21 -21 following a left side hit from Majewski. The Bobcats called three timeouts during the final seven points of the set.
Things were looking up for the Bobcats when Wiebe came in with a power kill, but missed the next serve, causing the home team to take the second set with a score of 25-23.
The third and final set began with Abbott rolling several hits into the pot on the Bobcats side.
Bobcats took the lead back 10-8 after their setter, Mary Thompson dumped the ball to the back of the Bisons court.
The third set saw the home team take a five-point lead halfway through the third set, leading 16-11. Bobcats left sides Majewski and Wiebe fought back hard on offense after several time outs.
The Bisons kept their run, and finished the third and final set 25-17 with a hit from Bisons power player Findlay that slipped past the Bobcats.
The two teams will face off again Saturday at 6 p.m. CT at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The match can be seen live on www.canadawest.tv.
