The Winnipeg Wesmen found out firsthand you can't squander advantages against one of the country's best.

The Wesmen women's volleyball team couldn't hold early leads in Set 1 and 2, and wound up suffering a 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20) loss to the Trinity Western Spartans in Canada West conference play Friday night at the Duckworth Centre.

In their home-opener, the Wesmen led 10-6 in the first set and held an 18-12 advantage in the second set before the Spartans (3-0) tore off eight of the next nine points to take a 20-19 lead. 

To their credit, the Wesmen (1-2) rallied with an inspired effort in the third, shaking off three three-point deficits early on. And, with the set tied at 22, proceeded to close it out on a three-point run punctuated by a kill from freshman Brooke Duncalfe. 

The first-year left side out of Sturgeon Heights Collegiate has looked nothing like a rookie through three matches this season and Friday night she notched her first career double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs. She hit .233 on 43 swings and added four block assists. 

Selva Planincic led the Wesmen with 17 kills and 13 digs to go along with two solo blocks and a block assist. Christine Kolbuck had another effective night in the middle, notching a career-high 10 kills with three block assists while hitting .438. 

Maryn Boldon led four Spartans in double figures in kills with 17. Grace McGillivray added 12 and Kaylee Plouffe and Kirsten Kampman chipped in with 10.

The rematch goes Saturday at 6:45 p.m. with tickets available online at wesmen.ca/tickets.