The Winnipeg Wesmen were done in by another five-set nail-biter.

Three Wesmen players registered at least 15 kills, but the Winnipeg men's volleyball team could not come all the way back in dropping a 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-16, 19-25, 15-13) Canada West conference decision to the Brandon Bobcats Friday night at the Duckworth Centre. 

The loss was Winnipeg's third straight and second in a row that went to five. Last Saturday at Alberta, the Wesmen fell 24-22 in the fifth to the Golden Bears.

Nigel Nielsen had a match-high 19 kills and hit .359 on 39 swings to lead the Wesmen (5-4), who also got 18 kills from Isaiah Olfert and 15 from Liam Kristjanson. The three attackers, who are the team's top three in kills this season, combined for 52 of the team's 66 kills and hit .276 as a trio. 

The Wesmen hit .258 as a team and setter Alex Krykewich had a career-high 54 assists as well as a career-high 11 digs while chipping in three kills on five attempts. 

After a listless third set, the Wesmen stormed back in the fourth taking a 4-0 lead out of the gate. After the Bobcats had closed to 6-4, the Wesmen scored seven of the next eight points.

In the fifth set, Winnipeg held an 8-6 lead at the flop but Brandon responded with back-to-back points. The teams played side-out volleyball to 13-13 but Paycen Warkentin notched a kill and the Bobcats teamed up to block Olfert on match point. 

Riley Grusing paced the Bobcats (6-3) with 13 kills and 11 digs. Jens Watt and Tom Friesen both had 11 kills, and Philipp Lauter had 10 kills and five block assists. Watt had a match-high 12 digs and JJ Love added 10. 

The teams meet again Saturday at 5 p.m. and tickets are available online now.