A quality defensive performance and well-rounded offence led the Winnipeg Wesmen to a big win Friday night.

The Wesmen women's volleyball team put up season-bests in digs and blocks and knocked off the Mount Royal Cougars 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 25-20) in a Canada West conference match at the Duckworth Centre. 

With the second half of the weekend doubleheader looming Saturday, the win pushed the Wesmen to 5-4 on the season with their fourth straight win, while MRU fell to 4-5. 

The Wesmen had 62 digs and eight total blocks (two solo, 12 assists), both high marks for the team in a four-set match this season. 

Ella Werbiski's career-high 15 digs led four Wesmen in double digits, with setter Breanne Bazin adding 13, and Brooke Duncalfe and Taylor Cangemi 12 apiece.

Duncalfe also had a match-high 14 kills and three aces, and Selva Planincic chipped in with 13 kills. 

It was the second win for the Wesmen in the past three meetings with MRU, after the two split a weekend series in Winnipeg in 2023. Prior to that, Mount Royal had won nine of the past 10 contests.

The Wesmen hit .345 in the first set and finished at .203 for the night, the fourth straight match they've hit over .200.

Sydney Scatcherd and Bronwynn Davies-Neira had 12 kills apiece to lead MRU, which lost its third straight. Paige Davidson led the Cougars defensively with 11 digs.