Hildebrand’s heroics push BU to win

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This article was published 20/02/2022 (1489 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — The Brandon University Bobcats bench erupted for Camryn Hildebrand’s first Canada West kill, blissfully unaware that it’d be far from her biggest moment of the night.

Two sets later, they mobbed the rookie middle blocker after her first-career block, which happened to be their biggest play of the season. The Bobcats women’s volleyball team came back to beat the Winnipeg Wesmen 3-2 (25-22, 14-25, 12-25, 26-24, 15-13) at the Duckworth Centre on Saturday.

“I can’t even put it into words,” Hildebrand said. “It’s so surreal, especially for my first time being out there and actually being effective, getting my first kill of (U Sports). It’s obviously a big deal to be out there even though the sets not going our way just to have the support from my team was surreal.”

“It is amazing. Cam works so hard,” added Nicole Ashauer, who posted a career-high 25 digs. “Every day she shows up for our team and to see her show up on the court is absolutely incredible. No matter how big or small, we’re always going to be excited for anyone who steps foot on the court.

“That energy can really shift a game and it showed (Saturday).”

Brandon improved to 8-6 and one win away from locking up second place in the East Division.

The Bobcats tore the cover off the ball from the service line right from the start. Danielle Dardis ripped five aces in six points to lead 8-3, two nights after Keely Anderson broke BU’s single-match aces record with nine. The Wesmen (6-8) chipped away, however, then dug everything that came their way and stole a six-point run almost entirely on kills to lead 18-16.

Anderson hammered two kills and Nicole Ashauer scored on a crafty deep tip to bring BU back ahead. Then Ashauer forced an over-bump with a tough serve and Rayvn Wiebe bounced it to pull ahead 1-0.

Brandon started the second set with an error fest. Dardis and Anderson missed serves, then the other three attackers all committed attacking errors as they fell into an 8-2 hole. The rest of the set was a defensive clinic. Emma Parker put up eight digs and recorded four of Winnipeg’s eight kills as the hosts let the Bobcats beat themselves to tie the match 1-1.

The Wesmen kept rolling as Parker racked up eight more digs and five more kills in the third. Winnipeg had 16 kills with just two errors in a dominant set. The lone bright spot for Brandon was Hildebrand’s first-career kill. Carter subbed the Vincent Massey product in for Kaoane Loch. She crushed two middle sets and the second found the floor, resulting in Brandon’s loudest cheer of the night even though it was down 19-12 and would lose the set.

“She just brings positive energy,” said Bobcats head coach Lee Carter. “When she gets an opportunity, they want to see her succeed and that really changed our focus from ourselves to helping out Cam.”

Hildebrand stayed in for the fourth as BU trailed 2-1. Wiebe called the group together before the set with one message.

“Really great teams come back after bad sets and win games,” she said, igniting a comeback.

Dardis blasted two aces, one that clipped the net tape and dropped. Anderson added two more, then Wiebe stuffed Kely Warmington straight down on a step-around to lead 8-1. Brandon stayed ahead 16-10 after a 5-1 run. Again, Winnipeg refused to go down without a fight. Coach Phil Hudson put regular starting outside Selva Planincic in for Emily Yaeger on her senior night and she sparked a big run to get back to 19-18 Bobcats.

In a role reversal, BU looked like the elite defensive team, digging everything in sight. Ashauer picked up her 20th dig late in the fourth as Brandon went up 23-21. Winnipeg snuck ahead on three straight BU attacking errors, but Wiebe redeemed herself with a kill and an ace to send it to the fifth.

“We just game planned really well,” Ashauer said. “We were making adjustments on the fly and communicating extremely well. we saw holes on our side and filled them consistently.”

The final frame belonged to Hildebrand. The Vincent Massey product knocked an over-bump down for a point, then scored on a middle kill before an Anderson ace made it 8-3 at the turn.

Hildebrand scored once more on a step-around off the block before heading to the bench as the Bobcats pulled ahead 13-9. Winnipeg battled back to 13-13 before Wiebe finally broke the run, bringing up match point, and Hildebrand’s magic.

“I’m still shaking. It was just a rush and I’ll always remember that,” she said. “The whole team came and rushed the court, so incredible. Just a crazy experience.”

Wiebe led BU with 13 kills and Anderson added 12. Stott picked up a career-high 18 digs.

On the other side, Emma Parker posted a jaw-dropping 25 kills with just three errors and 31 digs. Winnipeg had a .232 hitting percentage to Brandon’s .115.

For the second straight match, the Wesmen outscored the Bobcats but lost in five sets.

“I’m super proud of our team,” Ashauer said. “Our team is so resilient and we really proved it (Saturday). We wanted the win so bad and were willing to do whatever it took to get it.

“We had some amazing girls come off the bench that really showed up for us, and that’s what the Bobcats are this year.”

BU closes out the regular season at home on Friday and Saturday against Regina (4-10).

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