MVB: Huskies Drop 3-0 to Spartans on the Road, Earn Weekend Split

LANGLEY, BC – After a thrilling 3-1 win over the No. 6 seed Trinity Western Spartans on Friday night, the No. 5 Saskatchewan Huskies split the weekend series with a 3-0 loss on Saturday evening at the Langley Events Centre (24-26, 16-25, 22-25).

THE HIGHLIGHTS

• Trinity Western jumped out to an early 15-11 lead in the first set, before the Huskies scored six of the next seven points, thanks to some strong kills from Jacob Baird to put the Huskies back on track. A TWU timeout at 17-17 slowed the Huskies momentum, and teams traded points before Saskatchewan took a timeout at 23-23. Trinity Western would push ahead, taking the first set 26-24.
• The Huskies came out a bit faster in the second, coming within two points at 8-10 before three unanswered TWU points forced a Saskatchewan timeout. Isaiah Mamer and Emmet Graham had some great kills in the set, pushing the Huskies to 16-19. Six unanswered points from the Spartans would put them up 2-0 in the match with a 25-16 set win.
• Down 7-12 at the start of the third set, the Huskies came back in a huge way, scoring seven of the next nine and two huge blocks from Jack McGeough and Isaiah Mamer would force a TWU timeout. The Spartans would mount a comeback, leading 20-18 before it was Saskatchewan’s turn for the timeout. Spartans Aaron Elser and Henry Rempel had some key kills in the later part of the set, elevating the Spartans to a 25-22 set win. 

THE STATS

• Trinity Western’s Henry Rempel was dominant in the game, finishing with 20 kills while hitting at .690 without an error for the Spartans.
• Aaron Elser added 10 kills and three blocks for TWU.
• Saskatchewan’s Isaiah Mamer led the team with 10 kills and four blocks. Emmet Graham added 10 kills for the Huskies. 
• Trinity Western’s setter Anselm Rein finished the night with 38 assists, while Saskatchewan’s Noah Opseth finished with 29.
• TWU had a nine to eight and a half edge in blocks over SSK, and a 21-18 edge in digs.

THE STANDINGS
The win moves the Spartans back to .500 at 5-5, while the loss drops the Huskies to 8-2 in Canada West play and second place in the Canada West standings. 
 
THE NEXT ONE
After nearly a month on the road, the Saskatchewan Huskies will return to the Physical Activity Complex on December 1 & 2 to welcome the fourth place Winnipeg Wesmen (6-4) before the winter break. 
 
December 1 is the annual Huskie Toque and Mitt Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring toques and mitts to toss on the court after the first set. Huskie student-athletes will deliver donated items to the Dream Broker Program at St. Frances Cree Bilingual School. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com and can be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV.