WINNIPEG, MB – This weekend will mark the end of the Canada West regular season for the Saskatchewan Huskies, as they headed to Manitoba to take on the Winnipeg Wesmen. The Wesmen would prove to be too much for the visiting Huskies, winning in four sets (22-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19).
The Wesmen jumped to a quick 9-5 lead in the first set, thanks to some stellar serving from Selva Planinic. The Huskies would battle back and bring the set to a tie at 12-12. The set went back and forth until Saskatchewan grabbed five out of six points to take the 20-17 lead. Three unanswered points at the end of the set would give the Huskies the 25-22 set win.
The second set was evenly matched as the teams traded points to the 12-12 tie. Winnipeg’s offence would push the Huskies to a 19-15 deficit, before going on a five-point run to extend their lead 24-16, and the second set win at 25-16.
The Huskies jumped out to a quick 10-5 lead in the third set, with some impressive kills from Averie Allard and Mandi Fraser. Winnipeg would battle back, taking seven of the next eight points and the 12-11 lead. Another five-point run would extend their lead to 18-14. Their offence would continue to shine, pushing them to a 25-20 set win, and the 2-1 set lead over the Huskies.
The fourth set quickly moved to a 9-9 tie, before the Wesmen would grab eleven of the next fourteen points and the 20-12 lead. The Huskies were unable to overcome the deficit and Winnipeg would win the fourth and final set 25-19.
KEY PERFORMANCES
Setter Averie Allard had 33 assists for the night, with 16 digs and two aces. Mandi Fraser led in kills for the Huskies with nine. Winnipeg’s Emma Parker led the team with 23 kills for the evening, with 15 digs and two assists. Setter Portia Switzer had an incredible 47 assists for the Wesmen.
STANDINGS
The Huskies maintain their tenth-place spot in the Canada West standings, just outside the top eight with a 10-13 record.
NEXT UP
Saskatchewan is back on the court in Winnipeg on Saturday for game two of the series against the Wesmen. Game starts at 6:45 PM and can be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV.