SASKATOON, SK – After a thrilling five-set match Friday evening, the two teams returned to Ron & Jane Graham at the Physical Activity complex for a rematch Saturday evening, where the UBC Thunderbirds would get their revenge, taking game two to force a series split with the Huskies.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
The Thunderbirds would open the point race with a missed Huskie serve, followed by back-back-kills from Gavin Moes. Emmett Graham would get the Huskies in the race with a deadly kill from setter Noah Opseth to make it 3-1 in favour of the Thunderbirds.
The two teams would go almost point-for-point in a similar fashion to Friday night’s game. After 13, the Thunderbirds would switch to a higher gear, beginning to build a lead over the Huskies. Following a Huskie service error, UBC would be the first to 20, the Huskie with 16.
Two kills from Reeve Gingera, followed by a service ace by UBC setter Mason Greeves, would give the Thunderbirds the set advantage, making it a 1-0 match.
Set two would follow a similar pattern: the Thunderbirds taking a point run to open the set. Sask middle Jack McGeough would put the Huskies on the board, getting a swing past UBC blockers.
The Huskies would tie the match at 23, but a kill from Gavin Moes and a Huskie swinging error would put the Thunderbirds up 2-0 in the match.
The two teams would continue to play a close game in set three, the Huskies trying to dig deep to prevent the Thunderbirds from taking the game in three straight sets.
From a 14-14 game, the Huskies would take turns controlling the game, building a lead over the Thunderbirds, led by Isaiah Mamer, who would allow the Huskies to be the first to 20 in set three.
UBC would narrow the gap, but the Huskies would take set three 25-23, keeping them alive in the match.
In set four, both teams put out everything they had, the Huskies desperately pushing to take the game to overtime and the Thunderbirds pushing to wrap up the match in four.
The Huskies would find themselves in the lead at the set’s midway point, eventually being the first team to 20 and forcing UBC to call a timeout to regroup after a service error and attacking error made it a 21-17 set in favour of the Huskies.
Just when the Huskies thought the set was there, the Thunderbirds would tie it at 23 and ultimately take the set 27-25 over the Huskies to conclude the game.
THE STATS
The Thunderbirds would outscore the Huskies 63-56.
Saskatchewan’s Isaiah Mamer would lead the match and the Huskies in kills with 18. Emmett Graham would follow close behind with 12.
Reeve Gingera and Gavin Moes would lead UBC in kills two consecutive matches in a row, with 16 each.
Saskatchewan would have 5 successful team blocks, and the Thunderbirds would have 4 on the night.
Mason Greeves would lead the game in digs, getting 14 balls up off of Huskie swings.
THE STANDINGS
The Huskies and Thunderbirds came into the weekend tied for third in the Canada West standings with 43 points each. The Huskies hold a record of 15-7 after tonight’s loss, and the win will also shift the Thunderbirds to 15-7.
THE NEXT ONE
The Huskies will take to the road this coming weekend on February 16 and 17, closing out their regular season in Winnipeg against the Manitoba Bisons at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The game will be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV.
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