Women's volleyball student-athlete, Christina Souza and men's basketball student-athlete, Kevin Oliver have been named the Smitty's Bison Sports Athletes of the Week for the week ending January 15/12.

The #6 Bison women’s volleyball team started the second half of the 2011-12 Canada West season with a road sweep of the Regina Cougars during the Jan. 13-14 weekend. Manitoba now improves to 9-3 conference record.

Rookie setter Christina Souza continued her stellar play in her first season. She accumulated 55 assists, 22 digs, seven kills (.636 hitting percentage), six total blocks and ten points while starting and playing all six sets.

In the 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-22) victory on Friday, Jan. 13, the Brasilia, Brazil native had a team-high 28 assists, game-high 16 digs, two kills and two blocks in three sets. The next night, Souza added another 27 assists (game-high), six digs, five kills (.714 hitting percentage), four blocks and seven points in another 3-0 win (25-17, 25-17, 26-24).

This is the second time that Souza has been named Smitty’s Bison Sports female athlete of the week in the 2011-12 season (November 27).

Manitoba (9-3) travel to play #1 UBC (11-1) on the road on January 20-21 in a battle among the top teams in Canada West.

The Manitoba Bisons men’s basketball team extended their winning streak to six conference games (longest current streak in Canada West) with a home weekend sweep of the Regina Cougars on January 13-14 weekend. With the two victories, the Bisons have vaulted to the top of the Prairie Division standings with an 8-4 conference record.

Fourth year forward Kevin Oliver was a beast on both sides of the court as he averaged a double-double while guarding the Cougars top players through the weekend series. Oliver had a 23.5 point per game average along with 10.5 rebounds per game plus 4.5 assists per game and 3.0 steals per game while only playing 62 minutes (31 minutes per game) as a starter.

On Friday, Jan. 13, Manitoba cruised to a 116-87 win and the Winnipeg native started the weekend with an efficient game-high 23 points in only 22 minutes on 9/14 (64.3%) field goal shooting – he was also 5/7 from three point line – and added team-high nine rebounds, five assists plus two steals. The next night, Oliver continued his strong presence with a double-double with a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds in a closer 94-83 win. He also registered four assists, four steals and shot 8/16 (50%) from the field and 4/9 from the three-point line while playing all 40 minutes.

Oliver is the leading team scorer and tied for 18th in Canada West scoring with 14.3 points per games in 12 conference games. His well-rounded game is shown as he is sixth in conference rebounds at 8.5 per game, tied for third in Canada West steals at 2.6 avg., tied for third in assist/turnover ratio at 1.5, fifth in defensive conference rebounds at 6.5 per game, tied for seventh in 3-point made at 2.2 per game and tied for 12th in conference assists at 3.3 avg.

Manitoba (8-4) host two West Coast teams on January 20-21 weekend at Investors Group Athletic Centre (U of Manitoba campus) when #5 UBC (8-2) plays on Jan. 20 and #6 Victoria (10-2) on Jan. 21 with tip off both nights at 8 p.m. CT.