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.
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