WVB: Saskatchewan Drops Weekend Series Against Manitoba

SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatchewan Huskies were back in action on Saturday, after a five-set thriller on Friday. The Huskies were looking to take down the visiting Manitoba Bisons and earn the weekend split. Manitoba would head home after winning Saturday’s match 3-1. 
 
Both teams came out firing to start the game with the Huskies taking a 10-8 lead through the first 18 points. The Bisons were the first team able sustain a run, taking five straight points to go up 13-10 forcing a Saskatchewan timeout. The Huskies would storm back with a run of their own shortly after, with five straight points to take a 19-16 lead. Saskatchewan was able to sustain the pressure and hold on to take the set 25-19. 
 
The second set belonged to the Bisons from start to finish. Manitoba would go up 7-2 before a Huskies timeout, which did little to stop the stampeding Bisons. Huskie Head Coach Mark Dodds made several changes hoping to strike magic, but the team wasn’t able to push back enough, with the Bisons grabbing the 25-16 set win to tie things up. 
 
Manitoba would again come out strong, going up 7-3 in the third set before a Huskies timeout. This time, the Huskies would rally from behind to even things up 11-11. Saskatchewan would battle their way to a 16-13 lead thanks to some strong play by Mandi Fraser, who had three straight kills on the run, forcing a Manitoba timeout. The team looked poised to take the set but at 22-16, the Bisons would take six straight points to tie it at 22-22. Saskatchewan was unable to slow them down, and the Bisons would go up two sets to one.
 
The fourth set saw Saskatchewan fall behind 16-10 before Dodds was forced to make some personnel changes. The Huskies would get it within three at 20-17 but were unable to close out the game. Manitoba would take the fourth and final set 25-19 and the 3-1 win. 
 
Mandi Fraser and Olivia Mattern had 13 and 11 kills each for the Huskies. Light Uchechukwu and Raya Surinx had a whooping 22 kills each for Manitoba. Katerenna Bentley contributed 53 assists for the Bisons.
 
The Huskies head into a bye weekend before hitting the road to take on the Brandon Bobcats in February. All away games can be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV.