Anna 
The University of Manitoba Bisons women’s volleyball team earned their 13th consecutive victory on Friday, defeating MacEwan 3-1. The win also saw fifth-year libero Julia Arnold make history, surpassing the program’s rally scoring era record for career regular season digs with 1,333—a mark previously held by Team Canada veteran Cassie Bujan.
Arnold, who has already set the school record for career digs in the rally scoring era, now sits second on the all-time Canada West list. Her cumulative total of 1,707 digs ranks as the fifth-most in school history, further cementing her legacy as one of the program’s top players.
“It’s kind of a testament to how long this journey has been for me,” Arnold said after the game. “The team around me has really set me up for success, and coaching, especially with [head coach] Ken [Bentley], has made me the player I am today.”
In a fitting moment, Arnold broke the record during Seniors Weekend, ahead of her final regular season home game. She will be honored alongside teammates Katreena Bentley, Light Uchechukwu, Chloe Ellerbrock, and Julia Horne.
“I’m just really, really proud of her, and I’m not surprised. It’s a testament to the work she does every single day,” said Katreena Bentley, the school’s all-time leader in career assists.
The game itself featured impressive defensive performances from both teams, with 114 total digs combined. Arnold led the Bisons with 20 digs, while teammates Andi Almonte and Raya Surinx also contributed defensively, with 12 and 11 digs, respectively. Almonte and Surinx each combined for 39 kills.
MacEwan’s Payron Shimoda recorded 17 digs and 28 assists, while Arden Butler and Alyshia Bryks added 11 kills each. Despite their record, the Griffins showed resilience and posed a tough challenge throughout the match.
The Bisons, now 15-4 and second in the Canada West standings, had to battle through a tough second set, which MacEwan won 25-22. However, the Herd rebounded in the third and fourth sets, taking control of the match behind strong contributions from Almonte, Uchechukwu, and Brenna Bedosky.
“We got better as we went along. It was a slower start than I would have liked, but we found a way to keep after it,” said head coach Ken Bentley.
The match saw Arnold continue to demonstrate her defensive prowess with one particularly memorable play: a stunning one-handed dig that kept a rally alive and energized her team. “She just never capitulates,” said Bentley. “She stays in it all the time, every day. She’s been incredibly durable, and she just wants to be great for her team.”
As the regular season winds down, the Bisons look to close out their campaign strong with one final game remaining.
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