SASKATOON – Beginning their season in Brandon, MB this weekend will be a new-look University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's volleyball men's volleyball team that features 11 new players.
 
It won't just be the players that change for the Huskies this season however, as the team will be led by head coach Nathan Bennett, making his Canada West head coaching debut this weekend.
 
Bennett joins the Huskies from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C., where he served as an assistant coach with both the WolfPack men's and women's volleyball programs.
 
While there is a plethora of new faces on and off the court, this Huskies team will not lack experience. Of the 11 new players, nine of them are transfers into the program with previous playing experience at either the U SPORTS or collegiate level.
 
In total, the Huskies will feature 11 players in their third year or higher of playing experience, and also have at their disposal previous U SPORTS Rookies of the Year in Dylan Mortensen and CJ Gavlas.
 
The team will be looking to qualify for the playoffs after just barely missing out by two points last year with a record of 10-14.
 
After beginning the season with four-straight games on the road, the Huskies will play their first games inside the PAC on Nov. 9 & 10 when they welcome the Calgary Dinos to town.
 
 
[FULL CW PREVIEW]
 
2018-19 CW pre-season coaches poll: 9th
2017-18 CW regular season record: 10-14, 9th
2017-18 post-season record: missed playoffs
 
Head coach: Nathan Bennett (1st season) 
 
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2004 / 10
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: none
 
2017-18 CW regular season ranks:
Points per set: 15.3, 5th
Kills per set: 11.6, 4th
Hitting percentage: .200, 10th 
 
2017-18 CW regular season leaders:
Kills: 299 – Dylan Mortensen, OH
Digs: 162 – Etienne Hagenbuch, LIB
Blocks: 68 – Daulton Sinoski, OH
Aces: 37 – Daulton Sinoski, OH
Assists: 606 – CJ Gavlas, S
 
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Cole Burkart / Outside Hitter/ 4 / Edmonton, AB / NAIT Ooks
Jake Rapin / Setter / 2 / Prince Albert, SK / Red Deer Kings
Cody Caldwell / Middle / 4 / Reston, MB / Regina Cougars 
 
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Troy Wiebe / Setter / Grande Prairie, AB / 4 
 
Key performer:
Dylan Mortensen
Outside Hitter
3rd-year
Swift Current, SK

Dylan Mortensen will once again be a stalwart in the Huskies lineup in the 2018-19 season, as the outside hitter appeared in all 24 matches Saskatchewan played in last season and was named the 2018-18 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year. Mortensen was one of the top players at his position in the Canada West last year, finishing near the top of the conference in multiple statistical categories.

The Swift Current, SK native was seventh in the conference in kills with 299 and 15th in service aces with 24. Mortensen will be a key figure both on and off the floor for a Huskies team that will be led by new head coach Nathan Bennett.