Serving up some volleyball

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Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press Ozana Nikolic of the Winnipeg Wesmen women�s volleyball team bumps the ball during practice at the Duckworth Centre on Tuesday.

Volleyball teams at two university campuses in Winnipeg will take the court beginning tonight for their biggest matches so far this season.

The No. 3-ranked University of Winnipeg Wesmen women's team has made the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06 and will host the perennially successful Manitoba Bisons, ranked No. 8 in Canada.

Across town, the No. 2-ranked University of Manitoba Bisons men's team has only lost two matches all season and will be looking to make short work of the UBC-Okanagan Heat, a new Canada West team which has made the playoffs in its first season.

In addition, the No. 7-ranked Brandon Bobcats men's team will meet the Calgary Dinos, ranked No. 6, in a best-of-three series in Calgary.

The series winners will advance to the Final Four tournaments, Feb. 24-25 at UBC for the women and Feb. 25-26 at Trinity Western for the men.

"We're pleased and excited to be in the playoffs but we have further goals now," said Diane Scott, the Wesmen head coach.

"The Bisons are a very good team with a lot of experience on the floor. We totally respect them as an opponent. It's going to be a battle, and that's the way you want it. You want it to be challenging and tough and test your mettle."

The Wesmen will be led by fifth-year captain Lauren Sears, who set a conference record for service aces in a season with 41, national women's B team libero Tesca Andrew-Wasylik and setter Brittany Habing.

The Manitoba Bisons posted more regular-season wins (11-9) than last year (10-8) but have not beaten the Wesmen this season. Manitoba will be led by fifth-year veterans Tricia Mayba and Kristi Hunter along with first-year setter Christina Souza.

"We're the underdogs and they're the team to beat right now," said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley.

"Winnipeg has had a great season. They've pretty much owned us all season and we've got a lot of work to do to get past this team and get to the Final Four. The last time we played them, we made way too many mistakes. They're a good team and they forced us into those mistakes. For a young team, it'll be a matter of how consistent we can be over a series."

The Bisons women, in the playoffs for the sixth straight season, lost in the Canada West Final Four last season.

Manitoba's men's team has been a powerhouse all season, led by left-side Chris Voth, right-side Dane Pischke and middles Joseph Brooks and Carson Kauenhowen.

"We're excited about the opportunity, but you can't take anybody lightly at this time of the season and they have won five of their last six games to get into the playoffs," said coach Garth Pischke, whose team swept the Heat Nov. 11-12 in their only meeting of the season.

"They're a very good serving team so hopefully our strengths in our blocking and our defence will hold up against them and allow us to play our best."

The Bisons men have reached the post-season for the third straight season, but haven't advanced to the Final Four since 2005-06.

"We want to prove to ourselves that we can play well in every match this year. If we can do that, we're going to give ourselves a chance to win against anybody in this country," Pischke said.

"If we start off the match good, then our strengths are going to come out."

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

CANADA WEST conference volleyball best-of-three quarter-final playoff series:

WOMEN

At Duckworth Centre

Manitoba Bisons (No. 8) at Winnipeg Wesmen (No. 3)

Feb. 16: 7 p.m.

Feb. 17: 7 p.m.

Feb. 18: 7 p.m. (if necessary)

MEN

At IGAC UBC Okanagan Heat (unranked) at Manitoba Bisons (No. 2)

Feb. 16: 7 p.m.

Feb. 17: 7 p.m.

Feb. 18: 7 p.m. (if necessary)

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 16, 2012 C4