BRANDON – The Healthy Living Centre was the place to be this weekend, as the Brandon University Bobcats welcomed the Trinity Western University Spartans for a double-header that showcased the incredible support of the Westman community.
A total of 2,344 fans packed the HLC over the two-night series, eclipsing the 1,000-spectator mark on both Friday and Saturday. The electric atmosphere continues a season-long trend of record-setting attendance.
On the court, the weekend was highlighted by a thrilling victory for the women's team on Friday night, while the men's squad showed resilience and flashes of brilliance against a formidable Spartans opponent.
Women's Volleyball: Friday Night Thriller Highlights Weekend
The Bobcats (2-11) started the weekend with a bang on Friday, securing a massive 3-1 victory (11-25, 25-23, 25-20, 29-27) over the Spartans.
After a tough opening set, the Bobcats showed tremendous character, storming back to take the next three. The match culminated in a nail-biting fourth set where Brandon outlasted TWU 29-27, sending the large crowd into a frenzy.
Brynn Wildeboer led the offensive charge on Friday with a team-high 14 kills. Cassidy Hauta added valuable offense with 8 kills, while setter Carly Thomson orchestrated the attack with 28 assists and chipped in defensively with 12 digs. Libero Brooklyn Pratt was a defensive anchor, racking up 18 digs to keep rallies alive.
On Saturday, the Spartans responded, taking the rematch 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-14). Despite the loss, the Bobcats battled hard in the opening two sets, narrowly missing out on extending the match. Stephanie Miller was a bright spot for Brandon, leading the team with 10 kills on a very efficient .333 hitting percentage. Nerissa Dyer also had a strong showing, tallying 6 kills on .500 hitting.
Men's Volleyball: Bobcats Battle at the Net
The Bobcat men's team (5-9) faced a tough test against the high-flying Spartans (12-2) but showed they could compete at the net, particularly on Friday night.
In Friday's 3-1 loss (16-25, 21-25, 25-15, 22-25), the Bobcats dominated the third set, winning 25-15 to force the match deeper. The highlight of the night was the Bobcats' defensive presence at the net, led by Matthew Siebenga. Siebenga put on a blocking clinic, recording an impressive 9 total blocks (2 solo, 7 assists).
Offensively, Tom Friesen led the way with 12 kills, while Liam Pauls added 10. Setter Kale Fisher posted a double-double with 29 assists and 13 digs, working tirelessly to run the offense.
On Saturday, the Spartans took the contest in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-18). Despite the scoreline, the Bobcats received steady offensive production from their leaders, with both Liam Pauls and Tom Friesen recording 10 kills each.
The Women Bobcats will look to build on the energy from the HLC crowd as they prepare to host the Regina Cougars next weekend. The Men's team has a bye weekend to rest before both teams travel to play MacEwan.
