SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) announced Tuesday (Apr. 9) the seven inductees who will become the newest members to be enshrined into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame this fall. Included in the induction class is the 2003-04 University of Saskatchewan Huskie men’s volleyball team.
The 2003-2004 University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s volleyball team won the school’s fourth men’s national collegiate volleyball title.
After losing to the eventual champion Manitoba Bisons in the 2003 U Sports national semifinal, the Huskies took the final step in a tremendous 2003-04 season. They defeated the Bisons 3-2 in the Canada West conference final and finished with a 21-6 record overall.
At the U Sports nationals in Quebec City, the top-ranked Huskies didn’t drop a set to Sherbrooke or Trinity Western to advance to the final. The Huskies beat the Alberta Golden Bears 3-2 in the final to claim the national title.
In the Can-Am pre-season tournament in Edmonton, the Huskies beat the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars who went on to win the NCAA national title in the United States that year. The Huskies also beat the UCLA Bruins as they won their own Brian Mallard Invitational in Saskatoon. UCLA won its conference and would reach the NCAA final the following year.
Six of the Huskies starting seven-man rotation hail from Saskatchewan. A number of those players were honoured individually during the 2003-04 season. Adam Ens was the U Sports men’s volleyball national player of the year. He also won the BLG Award as the U Sports male athlete of the year – becoming only the second Huskie to ever receive that honour. Andrew Lockert received the Dale Iwanoczko TSN award for commitment to academics and the community. Joel Ens was named the most valuable player at the U Sports national finals. Joel Ens, Adam Ens, and Nathan Johnson were all named to the championship all-star team.
For more information on the SSHF class of 2024, or on how to attend the induction dinner and ceremony, head to sasksportshalloffame.com.
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