WVB: Undefeated Spartans Too Much for Huskies

LANGLEY, British Columbia – After splitting the first two sets, the Saskatchewan Huskies looked poised to be the first team to beat the undefeated Trinity Western Spartans. The Huskies had some dynamic offensive attacks, but the strength and skill of the Spartans team was too much to overcome.
 
The Huskies wrapped up their weekend in Langley with a 3-1 loss (10-25, 25-20, 17-25, 17-25). 

THE HIGHLIGHTS

• Saskatchewan struggled in the first set in the face of a powerful Spartans attack, starting with an early 6-11 deficit. Nine unanswered points would stop the Huskies hopes for a comeback late in the set, as the Spartans cruised to a 25-10 set victory.
• The Huskies were determined to turn things around in the second set, with Keely Anderson and Abbey Klein having two great kills apiece to put the Dogs up 6-4. Julia Howell Bourner would have two blocks and a kill, moving the huskies up 12-7 over the Spartans. Saskatchewan led 15-9 before a TWU timeout. 
• Coming out of the timeout, teams traded points back and forth until the Spartans used their second timeout, trailing 14-20. The Spartans had a late set comeback, but the Huskies were determined and focused, winning the second set 25-20. 
• Teams traded points to start the third set, with two service aces from Saskatchewan’s Keely Anderson. Trinity Western started to pull ahead, with the Huskies calling a timeout trailing 5-11. Four straight points for the Spartans late in the set elevated them to a 25-17 set win.
• The Huskies had an impressive start to the fourth set, going up 7-4 before five unanswered points pushed the Spartans ahead 9-7. The Spartans kept chipping away, slowly increasing their lead to 18-13 before a Huskies timeout. Momentum stayed with the Spartans, as they closed out the game with a 25-17 fourth set victory.

THE STATS

• Saskatchewan’s Keely Anderson finished the night with 15 kills and nine digs for the Dogs. Julia Howell Bourner added seven kills and six blocks. 
• Kaylee Plouffe led with 18 kills and four blocks, with teammate Kirsten Kampman adding 13 kills and four blocks. 
• The setters were evenly matched with both Saskatchewan’s Sophia Magus and Trinity Western’s Sydney Gill finishing up with 29 assists.
• TWU finished the night hitting at .228 (49-18-136), while Saskatchewan finished at .107 (37-23-131)
• The Spartans had 59 digs, while the Huskies finished with 60.

THE STANDINGS
The 25-10, 20-25, 25-17, 25-17 win improves the No. 2 Spartans to 10-0, while the loss drops the Huskies to 5-5.

THE NEXT ONE
The Saskatcheawn Huskies are finally back at home after extended time on the road. The team will welcome the Winnipeg Wesmen to the Physical Activity Complex on Friday, December 1 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, December 2 at 4:30 PM. 
 
December 1 is the annual Huskie Toque and Mitt Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring toques and mitts to toss on the court after the first set. Huskie student-athletes will deliver donated items to the Dream Broker Program at St. Frances Cree Bilingual School. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com and can be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV.