HUSKIES SECURE PLAYOFF SPOT WITH SWEEP2013-01-26
Thanks to a 3-0 (29-27, 25-13, 25-22) win over the visiting No. 6 ranked Brandon University Bobcats, the No. 8 ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies secured a date in the Canada West men’s volleyball postseason.
With the win, the Huskies move to 12-6 on the season. The Huskies sweep over the Bobcats, a night earlier Saskatchewan won 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23), combined with a Mount Royal Cougars loss to the Trinity Western Spartans will set up the first postseason appearance by the Huskie since 2006-07.
Brandon drops to 10-8 and is still in the hunt for one of the remaining spots in the playoffs.
Match Stats
Matching each other point-for-point in the first set, Brandon took a lead at 24-21 after a Dan Boutwell service ace. The Huskies took a timeout and regrouped scoring the next three points to tie the game. The teams sat at match point three times, before Huskie Jordan Nowakowski came off the bench with a strong serve and kill for the 29-27 win.
Despite small leads early in the second and third sets, Brandon could never get control of the games. Saskatchewan took the sets 25-13 and 25-22.
Sam Tuivai led the Bobcats with 11 kills, while Roy Ching added another 10. Scott Neufeld finished the game with a match-high 12 digs.
Third-year outside hitter Paul Thomson led the Huskies with 15 kills and Bryan Fraser added another 12. Chris Gilbert and Jeff Grant each had nine kills on the night.
The Huskies face provincial rival the Regina Cougars in a home-and-home series next week, while Brandon returns home to host the UBC Thunderbirds. 
