BRANDON, MB – The Brandon University Bobcats Volleyball teams hosted their home opening doubleheader on Halloween night, inside an electric atmosphere at the Healthy Living Centre. The night was marked by the ceremonial raising of the 2025 U SPORTS Men's National Championship Banner and two hard-fought Canada West volleyball matches against the Mount Royal Cougars.

Men's Volleyball Dominates on Banner Night

The defending National Champion Bobcat Men (1-2) delivered a clinical performance, sweeping the Mount Royal Cougars (4-1) in straight sets (25-15, 25-20, 25-16).

The victory was anchored by a dominant offensive effort, as the Bobcats finished the match hitting a highly efficient .446 as a team.

Tom Friesen led the attack with 15 kills on a phenomenal .542 hitting percentage. Senior Liam Pauls contributed 5 aces and 5 kills, while primary setter Kale Fisher delivered 30 assists. The team recorded 12 total aces.

The Cougars struggled to contain the Bobcat attack, hitting .238 as a team. Outside hitter Ryan John led the Mount Royal side with 10 kills, while setter Grant Hill finished with 20 assists.

The men's game began with the ceremonial raising of the 2025 U SPORTS National Championship Banner, a moment met with roaring support from the costumed crowd.

Women's Volleyball Battles Hard in Front of Home Crowd

The Bobcat Women (0-3) faced a tough challenge in the early game, dropping three sets (22-25, 24-26, 17-25) to a disciplined Mount Royal side (3-0). Despite the result, the Bobcat Women showed resilience, particularly in the competitive second set where they pushed the Cougars to extra points before falling 26-24.

Cassidy Hauta led the Bobcat attack with 8 kills and a service ace. Libero Brooklyn Pratt was a defensive leader, controlling the back court with a team-high 18 digs. Middle blocker Nerissa Dyer recorded 6 kills and 3 total blocks.

The Cougars were led offensively by Sydney Scatcherd who tallied a match-high 14 kills and 2 aces. Setter Kennedy Williscroft guided the Cougar offense with 21 assists, while libero Paige Davidson provided exceptional back-row defense with 14 digs.

Both volleyball programs will return to the court immediately for the rematch and conclusion of the weekend series. The Women's team will look to secure their first victory of the season at 5:00 PM, followed by the Men's team aiming for the sweep at 6:45 PM.