HUSKIES GET FIRST SWEEP OF SEASON WITH WIN OVER DINOS

HUSKIES GET FIRST SWEEP OF SEASON WITH WIN OVER DINOS

With a 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23) win Saturday night at the PAC in Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies completed a sweep of the visiting No. 7 ranked University of Calgary Dinos. 

Saskatchewan improves to 3-5 on the season, while Calgary drops to 3-7. A night earlier, the Huskies won 3-2 (25-27, 25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 18-16). The sweep is the first of the 2014-15 season for Saskatchewan.

Outside hitters Jordan Nowakowski and Paul Thomson powered the Huskies to the win combining for 32 kills in the match. Nowakowski led the duo with 17 kills, eight digs and two block assists. Thomson added 15 kills, five digs and three service aces. 

Braden O'Toole led the Dinos with 10 kills, seven digs and six block assists, while Connor Frehlich and Keith West each added another nine kills for Calgary. 

Saskatchewan jumped to a 5-0 lead on a Zak Rempel service run that included two aces to open the first set. Calgary couldn't recover from the early deficit only getting within two points twice in the set. The Huskies won 25-23.

Tied at seven in the second set, the Huskies went on an 8-2 run to lead 15-9. Again, Calgary couldn't recover from the large lead and Saskatchewan won 25-17.

The Dinos found momentum in the third set to extend their lifeline in the match. After the teams were tied at six thanks to an O'Toole kill that froze the Huskies, Calgary scored three straight points including a West service ace, another O'Toole kill and a block by Frehlich and Sean Tuff. Saskatchewan was able to tie the set at 18 but a West attack returned the ball right back to the Dinos. Two straight blocks by West and Tuff ended the set 25-21.

Saskatchewan held a four point lead in the fourth set before Calgary was able to pull within one point at 9-8. The Huskies continued to lead but the Dinos wouldn't go away tying the game at 13 and making small runs to keep the set close. After West tied the set at 23. Nowakowski and Thomson scored the next two points for the Huskies for the 25-23 win.  

The Huskies meet the UBC Okanagan Heat on the road next weekend, while Calgary returns home to host the Regina Cougars.