MVB: Heartbreaker in Hamilton as Huskies Fall in Five Sets to Montreal

HAMILTION, ON – After a heartbreaking loss to the McMaster Marauders on opening night of the 2023 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship presented by Mikasa, the Saskatchewan Huskies were back on the court on Saturday afternoon to take on the Montreal Carabins in their second game at the national championship.
 
Incredible performances from Saskatchewan’s fifth year players were the star of the show but the game would not end in the Huskies favour, as they fell in five sets to the Carabins (15-25, 25-20, 25-29, 25-27, 8-15). 
 
Montreal would take a quick 11-6 lead in the first set, with four kills from Julien Boileau. A timeout from Saskatchewan shortly after would help the Huskies adjust to an impressive hitting percentage from Montreal. The middle of the set would go back and forth but Saskatchewan would struggle to come back from their deficit. Montreal would take the first set 25-15, thanks to a 54% hitting percentage, compared to Saskatchewan’s 19%.
 
A focused Huskie team started the second set, jumping to a quick 7-3 lead over the Carabins, thanks to some incredible kills from Quinn Buchanan. A timeout from Montreal would slow Saskatchewan’s momentum a bit, but Saskatchewan’s offence would continue to thrive, moving ahead 19-14. 
 
Montreal would close the gap a bit before taking a Saskatchewan timeout at 19-16. Three straight points late in the set would bring Montreal within one at 21-20 Huskies, before Saskatchewan would take their second timeout. A key kill from Dylan Mortensen, along with some clutch serving from Levi Olson would force a Montreal timeout at 23-20 Huskies. Levi Olson would continue his serving streak and the Huskies would take the second set 25-20. 
 
Saskatchewan would jump out to a 12-7 lead to start the third set before a Montreal timeout. Momentum would continue Saskatchewan’s way and they would increase their lead to 15-8. Three straight points from the Carabins, thanks to Huskie errors, would bring the score to 15-11 Saskatchewan, before a number of attack errors from Montreal would extend the Huskies lead to 18-12, forcing a Carabins timeout. Dylan Mortensen would spend most of the set throwing up some incredible kills to lead the Huskies to a 25-19 set victory and the 2-1 set lead. 
 
It was Montreal that would take a quick lead to start the fourth set, going up 12-8 before a Saskatchewan timeout. Montreal’s offence would continue to be strong out of the timeout, increasing their lead to 15-10. Kills from Dylan Mortensen and Jack McGeough, and a huge block from Dylan Mortensen and Quinn Buchanan would bring the set within two points before a Carabins timeout at 13-15 Huskies. 
 
Saskatchewan would rally back, thanks to incredible kills from Quinn Buchanan, and would tie the set at 18-18. The set would go back and forth, and remained tied at 21-21, thanks to determined offensive play from both teams. A few key errors from Saskatchewan would give the 23-21 lead to Montreal, until a service error from the Carabins, and an ace from Huskie Jack McGeough, would tie the game again at 23-23. Neither team would be willing to give up the set, but the Carabins would prevail 27-25, and force a fifth set. 
 
The final set would start with a 4-1 lead from the Carabins, pushing the Huskies to take a timeout. Montreal would continue to thrive in the set, moving to an 8-4 lead before the teams switched sides. Errors in the last half of the set would prove to be too much for the Huskies to overcome, as Montreal would take the fifth and final set by a score of 15-8. 
 
KEY PERFORMANCES
Saskatchewan’s Dylan Mortensen would have a team high 17 kills and 21 points, followed by Levi Olson with 12 kills and three service aces. Mark Armstrong would lead the team in assists and digs with 38 and 13 respectively.
 
For Montreal, it would be outside hitter Guillaume Bisson leading the way with 18 kills and seven digs. Julien Boileau would follow with 14 kills and 11 digs. 
 
SEASON WRAP UP
The Saskatchewan Huskies men’s volleyball team will end the 2022-23 season with a seventh place finish at the U SPORTS championship, notching their best finish since the 2015-16 season.