WVB: Wesmen Push Huskies to Fifth Set Loss

SASKATOON, SK – After spending the previous few weekends on the road, the Saskatchewan Huskies returned to the Physical Activity Complex to take on the Winnipeg Wesmen on Friday night. After the Winnipeg took a two-set lead, the Huskies made a fierce comeback, forcing a fifth set. Ultimately, Winnipeg came out on top in the fifth, taking the victory over the Huskies. 
 
THE HIGHLIGHTS

• Set one saw teams push it to the limit, going almost point for point with minimal runs. In time. The set came down to errors, with Winnipeg capitalizing and winning the set 28-26, establishing an early lead over the Huskies.
• High on the adrenaline of set one, the Wesmen came into set two with outstanding energy, dominating the set. The Wesmen had a team attack percentage of 0.609; their swings were no match for the Huskie block. Winnipeg dominated the second set, winning 25-13. 
• Saskatchewan rallied back in the third set. With Winnipeg up 9-8, the Huskies went on a six point run to take the 14-9 lead. Points went back and fourth and with the Wesmen within one at 17-18, the Huskies went on another heater, scoring seven of the next eight points and winning the set 25-18.
• Though the Wesmen outperformed the Huskies on paper in the third, it came down to the final points of the set to determine if we were heading to five. The Huskies fought hard and took the set 25-22. 
• Though both teams had two set wins each heading into the fifth, Winnipeg were determined to end the night with a win, being the first to eight points, and then off to a quick 15-7 set win, sealing the deal and winning in five.  

THE STATS

• Saskatchewan’s Keely Anderson and Winnipeg’s Selva Planincic lead in kills, each having 15 on the night.
• Keely Anderson also led in digs, putting up 20 balls off Winnipeg’s swings.
• Taylor Cangemi led the dig count for the Wesmen, putting up 18 for her team.
• Julia Howell Bourner (SSK) and Portia Switzer (WPG) lead the match in service aces, each having five on the night.

THE STANDINGS 
The loss will put the Huskies at 5-6 overall, while the win improves the Wesmen record to 4-7. The Huskies currently sit in seventh place in the Canada West standings, with Winnipeg in tenth.
 
THE EXTRAS
Ahead of today’s match-up, the two teams took a moment of silence for the Thompson Rivers WolfPack and the players involved in Wednesday’s multi-vehicle accident in Kamloops, BC. The Huskies wore orange in warm-up, and both teams wore orange and black ribbons in their hair in support. Our most sincere thoughts are with their families and loved ones. Huskie Athletics offers our deepest condolences from one pack to another. 
 
NEXT UP
The two teams will return to the Physical Activity Complex for a rematch on Saturday at 4:30 PM, following the men’s game at 3:00 PM. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com and fans can catch the live stream on CanadaWest.TV.