BY DAVID LARKINS, Wesmen Athletics

Down two starters and mired in a six-match losing streak, the Winnipeg Wesmen picked Saturday to pick themselves up out of their doldrums with one of their biggest wins of the season.

Adrian Dyck led a balanced Wesmen attack with nine kills and Ethan Duncan had 5.5 blocks, including two stuffs, as Winnipeg avenged a loss from two days earlier, beating the Manitoba Bisons 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-18) Saturday afternoon at the Investors Group Athletics Centre at U of M.

The Wesmen dropped a four-set decision on Thursday at home – part of the Duckworth Challenge the U of W eventually won – but bounced back with their first win since starters David Bommersbach and Taylor Howe went down to injury Jan. 11.

Logan Brennan had his most productive match as a left side, notching eight kills on 15 swings for a .400 attack percentage. Duncan had seven kills on 13 swings and fellow middle blocker Garrett Jones bounced back from a rough Thursday performance to crush six kills on 13 swings. Daniel Thiessen also had six kills for the Wesmen, who put up four stuff blocks, 18 block assists and hit .211 on the night.

Adam DeJonckheere had 12 kills to lead the Bisons (7-11). Scott Vercaigne, second on the team in kills this season, was held to -.105 attacking and six kills on 19 swings with eight errors.

Winnipeg improved to 11-7 heading into the bye week.