DAVID LARKINS, Wesmen Athletics
The Winnipeg Wesmen worked a short shift Saturday and were rewarded with a return to first place in the East Division.
Daniel Thiessen had a match-high 16 kills and added four block assists and an ace as the Wesmen men's volleyball team swept the Manitoba Bisons 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 26-24) in a Canada West conference match at the Duckworth Centre.
The Wesmen moved to 6-4 on the season while Manitoba fell to 5-5 in a tie with Saskatchewan for second place in the division. Only four points separate Winnipeg from fourth-place Brandon, which comes to Duckworth to kick off a home-and-home series on Jan. 27.
Darian Picklyk had 15 digs, a season-high for him in a three-set match as the Wesmen avenged a defeat at Manitoba earlier in the week.
Nigel Nielsen had 12 kills on 25 swings with just three errors (.360) and two aces.
Freshman Jaxon Rose had nine kills with seven digs and two aces.
Middle blocker Paxton Koop had eight total blocks, three solo.
Ben Carleton and Spencer Grahame had nine kills apiece to lead the Bisons. Kyle Marten had a team-high 11 digs.
The Wesmen held the Bisons to .098 hitting on the night. The Bisons hit under .100 in the first two sets.
Winnipeg hit .219 for the match, including .314 in the second.
—#REPTHEW—
