2024-25 Season Preview: Huskie Women’s Volleyball

SASKATOON, Sask. – The Canada West volleyball season is officially here and the Saskatchewan Huskie women’s volleyball team is set to make their season debut this Friday, October 18. The Dogs will host the Regina Cougars in a two-game weekend series to kick off the 2024-25 campaign, with the matches also serving as another showdown in the U-Prairie Challenge presented by SaskMilk. 
 

2023-24 Season Recap
Regular Season: 8-16 / 11th in Canada West
CW Team Ranks: Offence – 12th (1172 Pts) / Defence – T-9th (1057 Digs)
Regular Season Leaders (RETURNING):
    Points – Keely Anderson (282.5)
    Kills – Keely Anderson (234)
    Assists – Tielle Hagel (228)
    Digs – Keely Anderson (165)
    Service Aces – Keely Anderson (32)
 

2024-25 Canada West Coaches Poll

Friday’s season-opening match will begin the start of a 20-game regular season for the Huskies, who are one of fourteen programs from across West Canada who will be competing for conference supremacy. At the conclusion of the regular season schedule, the top 10 teams will earn admittance into the Canada West playoffs, beginning with a play-in best-of-three series featuring the 10th seed at the 7th seed and 9th seed and the 8th seed. From there, a best-of-three quarterfinal round will cut the number of teams still alive to four before a single-eliminated final four to determine this year’s conference champion. The two teams facing off in the championship game will also earn a ticket to the 2025 U SPORTS Championship tournament which is staying out west this season. The University of Manitoba Bisons will serve as this year’s hosts, with the tournament set to take place from Macrh 14-17, 2025. 

The 2024-25 edition of the Huskie women’s volleyball team returns some of their most productive student-athletes from a season ago while adding an exciting recruiting class full of talent and potential. 

“Despite being a you team I am looking forward to seeing big steps taken this season,” said head coach Mark Dodds, who enters his 10th season at the helm of the Huskie women’s volleyball program. “We’re excited about what’s to come with this group.”
 

2024-24 Huskie Women’s VOlleyball Recruiting Class
(Name / No. / Position / Eligibility Year / Major / Hometown / High School/Last Team)

Gabrielle Flaman / #16 / Libero / 1 / Arts & Science / Saskatoon, Sask. / Holy Cross HS
Mackenzie Lyburn / #14 / Leftside Hitter / 1 / Arts & Science / Brandon, Man. / Vincent Massey HS
Norah Matthews / #7 / Middle Blocker / 1 / Kinesiology / Lloydminster, Alta. / Holy Rosary HS
Ella Milne / #18 / Outside Hitter / 1 / Arts & Science / Toowoomba, Australia / Hofstra University
Jordan Smyth / #3 / Setter / 1 / Arts & Science / Victoria, B.C. / Mount Douglas Secondary
Aidan Woloshyn / #8 / Middle Blocker / 1 / Kinesiology / Martensville, Sask. /  Martensville HS

“We’re extremely excited about this incoming group,” said Dodds. “We add a wealth of experience on the court and a high level of skill that will hopefully lead us to success in years to come.”
 

The Dogs are led by 2023-24 standout and outside hitter Keely Anderson. Anderson, a fourth year arts & science student from Outlook, SK, led the Huskies in several key statistical categories last season including points (282.5), kills (234), digs (135), and service aces (32). The former Brandon Bobcat not only led Saskatchewan but also ranked among the conferences top athletes in points (14th), service aces (16th), kills per set (13th) while starting all 24 matches throughout the campaign. Anderson will be looking for a repeat performance of last season’s home-opener where she totaled six service aces and eleven kills in a 3-0 Huskie win. 

In the middle of the Huskie rotation is USask setter Tielle Hagel who takes over full-time duties for the 2024-25 season. A key piece to the Dogs this season, and also a former Bobcat, Hagel is a proven member of the Dogs as the leading returner in kill assists after recording 228 last season. Ranking 19th in the conference with just 57 sets played, fans are sure to see plenty of the Hagel-Anderson connection tis year. 

A pair on incoming student-athletes are also poised to make an impact this season in rookie Gabrielle Flaman and transfer Ella Milne. Milne joins the Dogs from Hofstra University of the Costal Athletic Association (CAA), a division one program out of Hempstead, New York. A 6-foot-3 outside hitter from Toowoomba, Australia, Milne didn’t see the court in regular season action at Hofstra, utilizing a red-shirt in her freshman season with the team. An accomplished player in Australia, the arts & science student was named MVP of the Queensland Country Championships as a member of UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra.

Also, joining Saskatchewan is Gabrielle Flaman, who makes the jump to Canada West from Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon. The 5-foot-7 arts & science student has a big role to fill as she takes over as the Huskies starting libero in 2024-25. Despite the tall task ahead, Flaman has impressed USask coaching staff through pre-season and non-conference play and should have fans excited for whats to come from the local product. 
 

The Huskies kick off the 2024-25 season on Friday, October 18 at the Physical Activity Complex (PAC) in the first of two matches on opening weekend against the Regina Cougars. Individual tickets for the Dogs’ home opener are available at HuskieTIckets.com along with season tickets so you don’t miss any of the home action this year. Fans looking to strike a deal on tickets this season can also get 25% off of single-game tickets from Monday, October 21 to Sunday October 27 using code VBALLBUYWEEK. 

Fans unable to attend the season opener can catch Friday’s action at CanadaWest.tv.