Record breaking night for Raya Surinx helps Bisons tie series

KAMLOOPS – A record-setting performance from Raya Surinx powered the Manitoba Bisons to a 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22) victory over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack Friday night, sending the best-of-three Canada West Quarter-final series to a third and deciding game.

Surinx, the two-time reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year, was electric with a Canada West playoff record 38.5 points on the night. The fourth-year outside hitter finished the night with 30 kills, four aces and six blocks.

"I've seen her play for four years and I've seen how consistent she is," said Bisons head coach Ken Bentley on the play of Surnix. "Her biggest strength is just her consistency and she just continues to do it at this level. She's a super humble kid and nothing surprises me with her anymore, she works really hard to be the player she is so credit to her."

Rookie setter Julia Martens tallied 43 assists for Manitoba while Aviendah Plett added six blocks.

Newly-minted Canada West Second Team All-Star Rida Erlalelitepe led the way for the 'Pack with 17 kills and a pair of service aces. Libby Meldrum added 43 assists and libero Olivia Andulajevic tallied 11 digs and 42 successful service receptions.

Needing a win after falling to the WolfPack last night, the Bisons came out firing to ensure that the teams will play again tomorrow – Saturday, Feb. 28 - at 6:00 p.m. inside the TCC.

"Obviously I'm super pleased with the grit and the fight, we know how good TRU is and if we aren't in the fight every single rally, we just aren't going to beat this team," said Bentley. "I was really pleased with how we responded, I thought we defended well and just had grit and good tenacity. It was a great match on both sides and TRU is a really difficult team so I'm pleased that we can send this to a winner-take-all third match."
Surinx and Erlalelitepe went toe-to-toe in the first set with both players tallying six kills on ten attacks. A 4-0 Manitoba run in the middle of the frame that featured a pair of service aces from Andi Almonte turned what was a 10-9 TRU lead into a 13-0 Manitoba edge. The Bisons never looked back from there, taking the set 25-21. 

The WolfPack bounced back in the second. With Manitoba up 23-22 late, Hail Ward fired in a kill followed by a pair of Bisons errors to send the 'Pack to a 25-23 victory. Erlalelitepe led TRU with four kills in the set followed closely by Ward with three.

Manitoba put the game away with back-to-back set victories in the third and fourth. 15 kills the rest of the way from Surinx led the visitors to victories of 25-20 and 25-22 to finish the match.  

The all-important game three is set to hit the TCC tomorrow night with a trip to the Canada West Final Four on the line. That action can be watched live on Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.