Pilots Bounce Back, Sweep Cougars At Home

(NIVERVILLE, MB) – It was back to winning ways for the Providence Pilots on Week Two of the MCAC men’s volleyball season. The defending conference champions suffered a hiccup in opening weekend schedule, caught on the losing side of a series sweep at the hands of the CMU Blazers.

Providence’s Week Two opponents were coming off a sweep of their own. The Assiniboine Cougars entered the weekend without the slightest of blemishes, winning all six sets on their opening weekend on home court against the University of St-Boniface.

Led by a stellar home debut from rookie setter, Simeon Enns (Winnipeg, MB), the Pilots cruised to a 3-0 win on Friday night. Though a first win of the season is special to any team, this one carried some extra significance for Providence’s new head coach, Paul Armbruster, where the win will be forever recorded as the first of his MCAC coaching career.

Significant to the story of the contest was the late-match injury suffered by Avery Bergmann (Winnipeg, MB). With the Pilots leading 23-15 in the third set, the Providence opposite was unable to return to the match and was absent from Saturday’s rematch, after he landed on the foot of an opponent following a block attempt.

The story of Saturday’s Remembrance Day matinee was Cole Doell (Lowe Farm, MB). Used only sparingly on Friday night, Bergmann’s injury provided the 6’5 lefty with an opportunity to make an impact, and that is exactly what Doell did.

The rookie opposite recorded a career-high 12 kills, second-only to 2022-23 MCAC Player of the Year, Noah Boschmann (Grunthal, MB), who led all attackers with 16.

Providence evened their record at 2-2, with their second consecutive straight sets victory, sweeping the Cougars and moving level with them in the MCAC standings, behind only CMU to remain undefeated through four matches.