SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatchewan Huskies were back at the PAC on Friday night, taking on the visiting Calgary Dinos in their final home weekend of the regular season. The Huskies are in a push for the Canada West playoffs and got one step closer with a thrilling win over the Dinos in five sets (23-25, 30-28, 26-24, 21-25, 15-13).
The first set saw both teams go back and forth before the Huskies took a 13-8 lead. The Dinos were unwilling to go away getting with in one at 17-16 before a Huskies timeout. Saskatchewan got quick two points out of the timeout but were unable to continue their momentum as the Dinos scored seven out of eight points to go up 23-21. Saskatchewan fought back to get within one at 24-23, but were unable to close out the set, losing the first set 25-23.
The second set saw the Huskies some out strong with an early 9-3 lead. Calgary would mount a comeback and tie things up at 12-12 before a Huskies timeout. The timeout wouldn’t slow down the Dinos as they kept pushing to take the 17-15 lead. At 21-17, the Huskies would call a timeout and storm back to tie the game at 23-23. The set would go back and forth between the two teams before the Huskies had three straight points to end the set with a 30-28 win.
The Huskies come out flying in the third set, going up 13-9. Calgary wouldn’t break, staying in it and coming back to tie it at 19-19. Saskatchewan would again respond and battle their way to 26-24 win thanks to back-to-back kills from the BJM product Devyn Ethier. The Huskies would head into the fourth set with a 2-1 lead over the Dinos.
Calgary had a better start in the fourth set, and it would be neck and neck tied up 14-14. With Evelyn Kath at the line, Calgary rattled off four straight points. Mark Dodds would call a Huskies timeout, but Calgary was determined to send it to a fifth set, taking the 25-21 win.
The game was off to a fifth and final set. Saskatchewan went up to an early 4-2 lead early but the Dinos pushed hard to come back and take a 11-5 lead. The Huskies were not going to let this one slip away tying things up at 12-12 before rallying off three straight points to take the set 15-13 and the fith set win.
KEY PERFORMANCES Julia Sprentz had an incredible night against her former team with 17 kills. Olivia Mattern had 12 kills and Mandi Fraser added 10. Averie Allard had 48 assists for a game high. Sophie Reed had 21 kills to lead the Dinos, with Daisy Olsen adding 15 kills, while Mya Sheridan had 10. Stella Rain had 40 assists on the evening.
NEXT UP
The Huskies will go for the sweep tomorrow as they celebrate their graduation players. Game starts at 3:00 PM at the PAC on Saturday afternoon. Tickets can be bought on HuskieTickets.com