Pratt digs in as defensive leader

Kailan Robinson sometimes gets asked if she forgot to put a second libero on her lineup card.

Since U Sports volleyball teams are allowed to have two each set, most take advantage of the flexibility the rule offers.

Robinson intentionally doesn’t, because she has the country’s digs-per-set leader, Brooklyn Pratt.

“I trust her; I don’t need to put another (libero) down. She’s proven that,” Robinson said ahead of BU’s Canada West home opener against the MacEwan Griffins tonight.

“We’ve created a whole defence around her.

“If she struggled to dig a line shot or a 51 (quick middle set), maybe we wouldn’t make our defence that but we’re better that way. Our transition offence is improving, and that’s where we struggled the last few seasons. With her there, we’re getting better at it.”

The Bobcats are looking to bounce back from a pair of losses to the UBC Okanagan Heat last weekend in Kelowna, B.C.

The Griffins are also seeking their first win after the Winnipeg Wesmen swept them in Edmonton.

Both have struggled offensively thus far, so the Bobcats will look to create scoring opportunities during extended rallies. Robinson feels blocking in such a way that teams have to hit towards Pratt makes that easier.

“We do set up our defence to funnel to me and that makes me feel really good, that my teammates and coaches trust me to have such a huge role in that … knowing I’ll get that dig,” Pratt said.

“My mindset for all of it is to try to get it in a good spot, even those hard-driven balls.

“Try to get it high in the court so we can set up an attacker and stay in system.”

Pratt patiently worked her way into the starting role, having joined the Bobcats when standout libero Caitlin Le ran the defence.

Pratt, a former Vincent Massey Viking, tore her ACL before the 2022-23 Canada West season, and wasn’t able to play until the following year. She pushed for court time alongside the since graduated Brianne Stott, and finally took over the job full-time in 2024-25.

Last season, Pratt led Canada West with 3.82 digs per set and had 271 in total.

She’s off to a hot start, with 42 in seven sets, good for six per set against UBCO.

“I was not expecting the numbers that I saw, that’s for sure. I was pretty happy with it,” Pratt said.

“When I get up there, I want to stay up there so I lock in and try to get everything I can, and get everything I can for the team.”

This weekend is big for Brandon and MacEwan, as both entered the season projected to miss the playoffs in the pre-season coaches poll. While upsets against top teams feel like bonuses, today’s match at 6 p.m., and Saturday’s at 5 p.m., feel like must-win or at least must-split territory.

The Bobcats are the experienced ones this weekend, with plenty of seniors to go against a fairly fresh Griffins lineup.

“We have to take advantage of them being young, pretty much a fully new starting lineup, maybe four out of six people new,” Robinson said.

“We’re super excited. All week we’ve been saying, ‘We can’t wait for Bobcat Nation to show up again.’ Last season, they were so great to us. Our fans are amazing, and that’s what we do this for. We’re really pumped to get in our gym and show everybody what we can do.”

QUICK HITS: The men’s matches between the 1-1 Bobcats and 0-2 Griffins are set for 7:45 p.m., today, and 6:45 on Saturday … The BU basketball teams visit the Manitoba Bisons on Sunday.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com