Huskie Happenings (Nov. 15-16, 2024)

SASKATOON, Sask. – The latest edition of Huskie Happenings covers the period of November 15-16, 2024, and features four Saskatchewan programs in action this weekend. 
 

JUMP TO: Basketball | Volleyball
 

Huskie Basketball
Saskatchewan Huskies vs Alberta Golden Bears (M) & Pandas (W)
Friday, November 15, 2024 | 6:00 PM (W) & 8:00 PM (M)
Saturday, November 16, 2024 | 5:00 PM (W) & 8:00 PM (M)
Ron & Jane Centre Court | Physical Activity Complex

HuskieTickets.com | CanadaWest.tv | HuskieFAN.ca | CW Standings (W) | CW Standings (M)

Following a strong weekend for the U SPORTS No. 8-ranked Huskie women’s basketball team, in which they swept their weekend series with the Manitoba Bisons, the Dogs will get another test early in the season as they are set to host the No. 5-ranked Alberta Pandas. The Pandas have only played two games so far this season, defeating the No. 7-ranked Calgary Dinos in back-to-back games. In the opening weekend of the season the Dinos defeated the Huskies in consecutive games in Calgary. 

This weekend’s two-game series will add another chapter in a rivalry which has seen many pivotal matchups take place. The most recent edition was the 2023-24 Canada West Championship which saw the Huskies claim the conference title with a lopsided 73-42 win. That game saw the Huskies hold the Pandas to just 10% from beyond the arc while generating 21 points of of 30 Alberta turnovers. The previous year it was the Pandas who bested Saskatchewan, defeating the Huskies 69-57 in the conference semifinals. 

Meanwhile the men also face another tough matchup in the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign. The Huskies will take on the Alberta Golden Bears who have played just two games this season, both coming against the No. 3-ranked Calgary Dinos and both resulting in losses. Last season, it was a similar early-season meeting between the Huskies and Golden Bears which saw the the teams split wins. The Dogs dropped the first game on Friday before bouncing back with a three-point win Saturday. 

Student-Athletes to Watch
Gage Grassick – The last time Grassick played the Pandas she put on a game-high performance in the Canada West title game, going 10-of-17 from the field for 28 points to help the dogs capture their 9th conference championship. She is also coming off a record-setting performance against the Bisons in which she recorded the programs first regular season triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Dylan Miller – Last weekend against the Bisons, Miller put on a career performance Friday night, going 8-for-9 from the field and 6-for-6 from beyond the arc on his way to a team-high 23 points. 

Huskie Volleyball
Saskatchewan Huskies @ Alberta Golden Bears (M) & Pandas (W)
Friday, November 15, 2024 | 7:00 PM (W) & 8:30 PM (M)
Saturday, November 16, 2024 | 6:00 PM (W) & 7:30 PM (M)
Saville Sports Centre | Edmonton, Alberta

CanadaWest.tv | CW Standings (W) | CW Standings (M)

The Huskie volleyball teams are set to take another road trip, this time to Edmonton, with both teams set to face off with nationally ranked teams. 

The Huskie women will face off with the U SPORTS No. 9-ranked Pandas. The Pandas are 3-3 through six games this season, having suffered a pair of losses to the No. 3-ranked UFV Cascades, splitting games with the defending conference champion and No. 8-ranked Manitoba Bisons, and sweeping the MacEwan Griffins. The Huskies will be looking to carry some momentum over from last weekend, which saw Saskatchewan sweep the Brandon Bobcats in the weekend series with consecutive 3-0 victories. 

Last season in two meetings with the Pandas at home, the Dogs suffered back-to-back straight set losses to the eventual Canada West bronze medalists. 

Meanwhile the men face what could be their toughest challenge of the season in the defending U SPORTS Champion Golden Bears, currently ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation. The Bears are off to another hot start this season with a perfect record while dropping just three total sets in six matches. After narrowly edging out the Bobcats last weekend with a 5-4 split, the Huskies will be looking to pull off the upset against one of the best programs in the conference over the last several years. 

Last season when the two teams met in Saskatoon, the Bears got the best of the Huskies with a straight sets sweep in game one before a tightly contested five-set thriller in their second matchup.

Student-Athletes to Watch
Taryn Hannah – Hannah currently ranks second in the conference in total kills with 75 and third in kills per set, averaging 4.17 through six games this season. 
Emmett Graham – Through four games Graham has been one of the most productive players in Canada West, averaging 4.6 points per set and 3.94 kills per set, both 3rd-best in Canada West.