SASKTOON – In the Saskatchewan Huskies final home game of the season, the shorthanded Calgary Dinos played the role of spoiler. One night after a thrilling five-setter that went the way of the home team, the Dinos bounced back to end the Huskies win streak with a three-set sweep (25-19, 28-26, 25-20) Saturday afternoon at the PAC.
The first set saw both teams come out ready to play, tied up through the first 24 points at 12-12. Calgary would go on their first roll of the night, going up 18-14 before a Saskatchewan timeout. The Dinos would continue to swing at it, coming out of the timeout and taking three straight points before another Huskie timeout. Trailing by eight, the Huskies would get it to within four but were unable to take the lead, dropping the first set 19-25.
The second set went to a quick tie at 9-9 but this time the Huskies were able to take the lead, going up 16-13. With Saskatchewan leading 19-17, Calgary took a timeout and responded in a big way, taking seven straight points to lead 24-19. Saskatchewan would claw their way back to way back to tie it back 24-24. The Huskies pushed through to extra points but the Dinos came out on top, taking the second set 28-26.
The third set was a must win for the Huskies, but Calgary coming out firing, going up 14-8 before a Saskatchewan timeout. Trailing 20-12, the Huskies would again battle back to get within four points. A Dinos timeout would help them re-establish the lead at 23-16. Saskatchewan fought back to get it to 24-20 but ultimately, the Dinos offence was too much and they took the third and final set 25-20.
Caet McCorkell, Mandi Fraser and Devyn Either, all recorded six kills on the night. Calgary’s Daisy Olsen had 11 kills while hitting .455 for the match, while Alice Nikolaychuk came up big in the starting role and had 10 kills to go with seven digs.
The Huskies took time after the game to celebrate their four graduating players.
The Huskies will have to do some scoreboard watching to do, and wilt be in need of at least one win next weekend to keep the Huskies playoff hopes alive. The Huskies will be in the Manitoba capital taking on the Winnipeg Wesmen in the final weekend of the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Dinos return home for the final series of the regular season, welcoming Manitoba to the Jack Simpson Gym for a pair of contests, starting Friday.
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