Bisons’ Bentley set for success

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This article was published 21/02/2024 (753 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Bisons are the middle of a national title hunt that could bring the women’s volleyball program its first U Sports championship since 2014.

At the time, Katreena Bentley was a coach’s daughter just getting her start in the game. Today, she’s the engine helping to propel the Bisons to a No. 3 national ranking.

On Saturday, the third-year setter dished out 48 assists to lead Manitoba to a 3-1 victory (25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-11) over the Saskatchewan Huskies to close out the Canada West regular season.

That output allowed Bentley to establish a single-season conference record with 983 assists, breaking the prevous mark of 942 established by Eryn Orysiuk of the Alberta Pandas in 2017-18.

Entering the start of the conference playoffs Friday, Bentley leads the country with 10.92 assists per game.

“If I’m first in the country in assists that means our hitters are getting a lot of kills,” said Bentley before practice Wednesday afternoon. “And if our hitters are getting a lot of kills, that must mean we’re winning a lot of games. I kind of equate it to our team success.”

One of the biggest beneficiaries of Bentley’s skill set is left side Raya Surinx, who leads Canada West and the country in kills with 4.85 per game.

“Setters do not get enough credit, which is why it’s so cool that she broke this record because she’s getting the recognition she deserves,” said Surinx. “You can’t get a kill without a great set.”

What makes a great setter?

“She so easy to play with, she’s so adaptable,” said Surinx. “If the speed isn’t there one set she’ll make the change right away and it’ll be there. And if the ball isn’t outside enough, next play it’s perfect.”

Bisons assistant coach Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, a former national team setter, has worked closely with Bentley.

“The No. 1 thing is her willingness to work hard and her humility and how much better she can still be, even though she’s reached such a level of proficiency in that skill and at the position,” said Sawatzky-Koop. “I see her as always hungry to be better. She’s quite hard on herself, actually, and sometimes this year we’ve had to work on her not being quite so hard on herself. To take some credit where credit is due and build some confidence.”

In an era increasingly dominated by taller setters, the 5-foot-4 1/2 Bentley can be at a disadvantage, particularly as a blocker.

“It can be a factor in the front row for sure,” said Bentley. “But I think we do a really good job of defending around it and recognizing it for what it is and doing a good job of not letting it be a factor.”

Sawatzky-Koop downplayed the vulnerability.

“It’s not ideal and there are times when people have targeted her,” she said. “But here’s what I’ve always said to people is No. 1, you have to be a great setter. If you’re a great setter and you set a good enough set, you get a kill, right? You don’t have to block because the ball’s already dead.

“No. 2, we know what people are trying to do and we can set up our defence to where she’s blocking and in some ways, that makes another team’s offence more elementary.”

— Don’t expect Surinx back on the floor for this weekend’s playoff round. She hasn’t received medical clearance to play since suffering a sprained right ankle on Feb. 10.

“It feels so good,” said Surinx. “I can lunge but I just haven’t jumped yet.”

The Bisons open a best-of-three conference quarterfinal against the visiting UBC Okanagan Heat Friday at 7 p.m.

Games 2 and 3, if necessary, are also scheduled for Investors Group Athletic Centre on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

“It’s funny because around Christmas time (head coach) Ken (Bentley) had a big talk with us because some of us — people like me — stopped wearing (ankle) braces for a bit,” said Surinx, noting her injury could have been much worse. “And then we started wearing them again and then this happens and he was like, ‘Aren’t you glad you’re wearing them now?’”

— The No. 8 Manitoba men open their best-of-three quarter-final series with the top-seeded Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton Thursday. Game 2 is slated for Friday and Game 3, if necessary, on Saturday.

— In Calgary, the seventh-seeded Winnipeg Wesmen tangle with the No. 2 Mount Royal Cougars in a best-of-three series beginning Friday. Games 2 and 3, if necessary, are slated for Saturday and Sunday.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca