Rebounding from a disappointing loss a night earlier, the No. 10 ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies salvaged a weekend split with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-22) win over the No. 7 ranked University of Manitoba Bisons Saturday night at the PAC in Saskatoon.
With the weekend split, both the Huskies and Bisons stay close in the tight Canada West men's volleyball playoff race. After Saturday's win, Saskatchewan is 12-8 and sits tied for fourth place in the conference with the Winnipeg Wesmen. Manitoba, at 11-9, is just two points back and is tied with the Thompson Rivers WolfPack. Four matches remain in the Canada West schedule.
A night earlier, Manitoba defeated the Huskies 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 33-31, 25-16).
Jordan Nowakowski led the Huskies in the victory with a match-high 18 kills and seven digs, while fifth-year Paul Thomson added another 16 kills. Middle blockers Tyler Epp and Robert Graham were also strong in the win each tallying nine kills and five assisted blocks.
Kevin Falconer led the Bisons on the night recording 16 kills. Devren Dear added another 11, while Ken Rooney tallied 10. Alex Strachan led the Bisons on defence with six digs.
Manitoba was ahead for the majority of the first set until a five point run by Saskatchewan tied the game at 20. The Huskies pulled to ties at 21, 22 and 23 in the game, but a Saskatchewan service error and an attack that sailed long gave Manitoba the 25-23 win.
Saskatchewan had control in both the second and third sets expanding big leads that the Bisons couldn't recover from. The Huskies won 25-19 and 25-14 in the frames.
Tied at 13 different times in the fourth game, Saskatchewan was finally able to pull away after two Troy Wiebe service aces. A Thomson attack and a Manitoba error, put the Huskies at set point. Dear extended the Bisons' life but on the next play Thomson sealed the 25-22 win.
The Huskies travel to meet the Trinity Western Spartans next weekend, while Manitoba returns home for a home-and-home series with cross-town rival the Winnipeg Wesmen.