BRANDON, Man. – The defending Canada West champion Bobcats used a brick wall to help them beat the visiting Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Saturday.
 
BU recorded 16 total team blocks on their way to a four-set win over the WolfPack.
 
"We are a pretty experienced group and we learned more about the WolfPack as the match went along," said fifth-year outside hitter Seth Friesen. "We game planned appropriately and that really helped our blocking."
 
Friesen finished the match with 16 kills and Elliott Viles was next with 14 kills. Jake Fleming started at setter for a second straight night with Reece Dixon sidelined with injury and chalked up 42 assists.
 
The Bobcats took the first set thanks to a sparkling .375 hitting percentage. They led 16-12 at the technical timeout and used a 6-0 run to build a 22-14 advantage.
 
In the second set, both teams had just one attack error each. BU hit .600 while TRU countered at .579. It was 16-13 BU at the technical timeout and a 5-2 run shortly after gave them breathing room.
 
Brandon was in good shape in the third up 22-19, but Thompson Rivers rallied to avoid the sweep with a victory on extra points.
 
The fourth set was following a similar script with Brandon getting the WolfPack on the ropes at 20-15. Thompson Rivers once again stormed in dramatic fashion and took the lead late. TRU had chances to put the set away, and the Bobcats had multiple chances of their own to finish off the contest. In the end, BU earned a 29-27 overtime victory with Fleming and Chayse Warkentin combining for the match-winning block.
 
"It is really important to be resilient when the other team is fighting back. Being able to pull out the win in the end, even during tough times is a sign of good character," said Warkentin.
 
Brandon is 2-0 to start the 2019-20 conference campaign after going undefeated at the HLC in the regular season a year-ago.
 
The Bobcats have a bye this coming weekend with their next action on the road against the Saskatchewan Huskies on November 1-2.
 
Meanwhile, Thompson Rivers welcomes the Calgary Dinos on October 25-26.
 
Charlie Bringloe had a match-high 21 kills in a losing cause for the WolfPack, who sit at 0-2 to start the season.