Box Score
CALGARY- The Mount Royal Cougars lost 3-1 (29-27, 25-17, 16-25, 25-16) to the Manitoba Bisons' in the fourth set. Fallon Middlemiss led the Cougars with 14 kills and 20 digs, with the help of Mikayla Fritzke with 11 kills and 13 digs.

The set really picked up at the end when the Bison' tied it at 24-24. A long rally started between both teams at 28-27 when the Bisons' Rachel Cockrell killed it right down the middle to give the Bisons' a 29-27 set victory.

The Bisons' continued in to the second set with power. Towards the end of the set they held a 21-16 lead. The Cougars threw in one last good kill by Fallon Middlemiss but the Bisons' took over with four more points taking the set and going up 2-0 in the match.

The third set remained consistently even and after 16 points the two sides were deadlocked at 8-8. The Cougars then picked up their feet bringing in a 6-point rally. Mount Royal never looked back and won their first set of the game 25-16.

Manitoba took over in the fourth. The Bisons' went up 15-6 early. The Cougars fought back slowly but the Bisons' were too much. Manitoba took the fourth and final set 25-16. 

The Bisons' Rachel Cockrell pulled in 19 kills and 13 digs with help from other teammate Jordana Mine who notched 14 kills and 6 digs.

With the loss, MRU falls to 3-15 while Manitoba now improves to 8-8.

The Cougars will have a bye next week before heading off to Thompson Rivers on Jan. 23. Manitoba will head home to host the University of Alberta Pandas on Jan. 16.