(Image Credit: Archie Golding/LeftRightMedia via TRU WolfPack)

By Victor Kaisar

Canada West Volleyball

WolfPack, Bisons to play decisive third game after record-breaking performance from Surinx

Feb 28, 2026 | 8:13 AM

KAMLOOPS — Raya Surinx and the Manitoba Bisons weren’t going to go down without a fight.

The two-time reigning U SPORTS women’s volleyball player of the year set a Canada West playoff record 38.5 points, as the Bisons beat the WolfPack 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20) to even their best-of-three series at 1-1.

Surinx, a fourth-year outside hitter, led all players with 30 kills and added four aces and six blocks for the Bisons , who were facing elimination after the WolfPack took game one in five sets on Friday.

“I’ve seen her play for four years and I’ve seen how consistent she is,” Bisons head coach Ken Bentley said of Surinx in a statement. “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 on the night as the Bisons won their first game over the Wolfpack this season on their fourth attempt.

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Rida Erlalelitepe, a newly-minted Canada West Second Team All-Star, led the way for TRU with 17 kills and a pair of service aces. Libby Meldrum, who was also named a Second Team-All Star, added 43 assists while Olivia Andulajevic tallied 11 digs and 42 service receptions.

“I thought we were a little bit passive, they were definitely the aggressors and they did a really good job out of system of putting the ball in a spot where they could take a swing and they weren’t afraid to go after it,” WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm said of his team’s performance.

“We were a little too easy out of system in giving them a ball that they could transition and turn around back at us.”

The WolfPack and Bisons will play a winner-take-all game three at the Tournament Capital Centre at 6:00 p.m. this evening. It’s the only game on schedule as the Alberta Pandas, UBC Thunderbirds, and Trinity Western Spartans have all clinched a spot in next week’s Final Four in Edmonton.

“I just think we can’t grip the stick so tight,” Grimm said of the gameplan for Saturday. “You could see from the service line we weren’t as loose or as confident. We were thinking a little bit too much about not missing instead of going after our targets and putting them in trouble.”

“They passed the ball well and if they do that it’s going to be tough for us. I think that should be our advantage on that side of the ball and it wasn’t, so we have to do a better job in that area.”

The winner of this evening’s game will also earn a spot at U SPORTS women’s volleyball championships in Langley, which is being hosted by the Spartans. The Pandas and Thunderbirds have also clinched their spot at nationals following their wins on Friday.