WVB: Huskies Sweep Cougars in Game One of U-Prairie Challenge

SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatchewan Huskies returned to Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court at the Physical Activity Complex on Friday evening for game one of an exciting weekend match-up against the Regina Cougars in the volleyball edition of the U-Prairie Challenge presented by SaskMilk. The Huskies would sweep the Cougars in straight sets to 
 

THE HIGHLIGHTS

• Both teams came ready to play, keeping the score tight through the first half of the set. Regina would put up big blocks in the first, making the Huskies work to get the ball past. The Huskies continued to swing, eventually finding themselves a lead and closing out the set 25-19, taking the lead over the Cougars.

• In set two, the two teams would continue to play a tight game, and errors would make the difference. Both teams continued to tally up service and attacking errors. Ultimately, more errors would cost the Cougars the set and the Huskies to take a 2-0 lead (25-20).

• With a two-set lead, the Huskies entered the third determined to secure the win. Both teams kept swinging, but the Huskies shut down the Cougars with 12 kills on 23 attack attempts with minimal errors made. In the end, the Huskies would take the set 25-15.
   

THE STATS

• Saskatchewan’s Olivia Mattern was swinging away, leading the match with 9 kills on 22 attempts with only 3 errors. Reese Evjen led the Cougars with 8 kills on 21 attempts. 

• Jordy McEachern (REG) led in digs, putting up 10 balls off Huskie swings. Olivia Mattern would lead the Huskies with 7.

• Saskatchewan would have 7.0 total team blocks, and Regina would have 6.0, with Bailey Balaberda getting her hands on 3 of the 6. 
   

THE RANKINGS
Heading into the weekend, the Huskies held a record of 5-11 and the Cougars, 1-15. Tonight’s win will shift the Huskies to 6-11, knocking the Cougars to 1-16. 
 

THE EXTRAS
The U Prairie Challenge, presented by SaskMilk, celebrates varsity sports in Saskatchewan. This annual points-based competition between the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan involves 11 different men’s and women’s events, including soccer, football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and cross country.  

THE NEXT ONE 
The two teams will return for a rematch tomorrow at 3:00 PM at the Physical Activity Complex to determine the winner of this year’s U-Prairie Challenge. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com, and fans unable to attend can catch the action live on CanadaWest.TV.