EDMONTON — The MacEwan Griffins had no answer for Nigel Nielsen, and the Winnipeg Wesmen are coming home with a season-opening sweep.

Nielsen had a match-high 20 kills and the Wesmen men's volleyball team secured a two-for-two road weekend to open the Canada West conference season after a 3-0 (29-27, 27-25, 29-27) win over the Griffins Saturday night.

The Wesmen dropped only one set in two matches to start Canada West play ahead of their home-openers next weekend against Alberta. 

Nielsen hit .300 on the night, and Winnipeg also got nine kills and four aces from Liam Kristjanson, plus seven kills on 12 swings from Paxton Koop. The second-year middle blocker also had five total blocks as the Wesmen won their fifth straight against the Griffins going back to 2018. 

Kristjanson hit a match-high .615 with just one error on 13 swings. In four matches lifetime against MacEwan, Kristjanson has 10 aces.

Ben Traa, who spent his first two seasons as a setter, got in to an attacking role and notched eight kills on 12 swings, hitting .583 — all career-highs. 

Thomas Bridle, a redshirt freshman, had six kills and seven digs in his Wesmen conference debut. 

Winnipeg hit .330 for the night and held the Griffins to .283 attacking.

Jefferson Morrow had 17 kills to lead MacEwan (0-2) and Alexei Walliser had 12. 

The Wesmen will welcome the Golden Bears this weekend for the first time since 2019. Tickets can be purchased online now.