SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatchewan Huskies came into Friday night’s game fresh off bye-week and ready to resume their season on home court against the Fraser Valley Cascades on Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court at the Physical Activity Complex. Though the Huskies had a week off, they took the court by storm, ultimately sweeping the Cascades in a quick three.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
The two teams would fight back and forth, finding themselves tied at 10 after second-year Isaiah Mamer laid down a tremendous kill from Noah Opseth. The Huskies would take possession of the lead from there, leaving the Cascades behind on the road to 25. Jefferson Morrow would finish the set for the Huskies with a tremendous service ace down the middle, finding its way past the Cascade’s back-row passers (25-16).
Saskatchewan would lead the first half of set two, with the Cascades trailing closely behind until the Cascades would come to tie the game at 16 even. The Huskies would regain momentum and lead out the set 25-21.
The Cascades would play hand-in-hand with the Huskies initially in set three, continuing to prove relentless, but the Huskies would have a final push in them that the Cascades couldn’t match. The Huskies would finish their sweep with a 25-16 set win, concluding Friday night’s match.
THE STATS
Saskatchewan’s Isaiah Mamer would lead the match in kills with an impressive 18 in three sets on 32 attempts with only three errors on swings.
Jonas Van Huizen would lead Fraser Valley in kills with 10 on 28 attempts and only 2 swinging errors.
Jefferson Morrow (SSK) and Silus Van Huizen (UFV) would lead in digs, each getting 8 balls up.
Saskatchewan would swing 0.398 percent, and Fraser Valley would follow, swinging 0.179 percent.
THE STANDINGS
The Huskies are 11 and 6 after tonight’s win and currently ranked fourth in the Nation, holding the position since late fall, but in the 8th place seat in the Canada West standings, the toughest conference in U Sports this season. The loss shifts the Cascades to 5 and 12.
THE EXTRAS
To honour our Australian student-athletes, the Australian national anthem was included in the pre-game show to celebrate Australia Day. The Huskie men’s volleyball team has two Aussies green this season, fourth-year Jefferson Morrow and first-year Jacob Baird. The two teammates shared a moment wrapped in their countries flag while singing the anthem loud and proud.
THE NEXT ONE
The two teams will return to Ron & Jane Graham Centre court on Saturday at 3:00 PM for a rematch. The Huskies are looking to take game two to sweep the weekend series. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com, and fans unable to attend can catch the action live on CanadaWest.TV.