SASKATOON, Sask. - The 2024-25 season saw the University of Saskatchewan Huskies secure their most successful season in over two decades, with the program finishing on the Canada West podium before going on to capture bronze at the 2025 U SPORTS Championships. With the majority of their roster from a year ago intact and some talented new additions set to make their debut, the Huskies will look to build of their successes from a season ago, beginning with their 2025-26 season-opener against the Alberta Golden Bears.
2024-25 Recap
Regular Season: 14-6 / 4th Overall
Canada West Playoffs: 3-2 / CW Bronze
U SPORTS Championships: 2-1 / U SPORTS Bronze
CW Team Ranks
Offence: 16.2 points per set, 3rd / 107 aces, 6th
Defence: 145 blocks, 9th
Season Leaders (RETURNING)
Kills: 256 -
Emmett Graham
Assists: 842 -
Noah Opseth
Digs: 155 -
Ethan Smith
Blocks: 67 -
Jacob Baird
The 2024-25 campaign was the most successful season for the program since the 2003-04 National title season, with the Huskies securing a 14-6 regular season record as one of the best teams in the nation. After appearing on the U SPORTS Top 10 rankings for the entire season the Dogs finished fourth in the conference, earning a home playoff series for the second time in three years. From there, the team went on to defeat the Trinity Western Spartans in a best-of-three series before taking down the UBC Thunderbirds in the Canada West Bronze medal match in an incredible comeback effort from down 2-0. In Brandon at the U SPORTS Championships, the team then secured their second piece of hardware after defeating the Sherbrooke Vert et Or to secure national bronze.
With just two graduating players from the roster a season ago, the team looks poised for another successful campaign with much of their starting lineup back including All-Stars
Emmett Graham and
Jacob Baird as well as
Isaiah Mamer,
Lucas Musschoot,
Noah Opseth, and
Ethan Smith. Not only is this year's team now a year older and a year wiser, but they have also added some exciting incoming athletes to the rotation including TWU transfer
Aaron Elser, now set to suit up in green & white after sitting out last season, and rookie Rueben Veith, a talented rookie outside hitter.
"We're heading into the season with a strong core of experienced players who are entering the later stages of their careers," said Head Coach
Sean McKay, now entering his 8th season with the Huskies. "We are playing smart volleyball right now which is translating to a growing sense of confidence within the team, and we're excited to see that shine through on the court this season."
The Huskies will have little time to ease into the new campaign, with another perennial contender in the Alberta Golden Bears set to visit Saskatoon in an early heavy weight meeting. Saskatchewan and Alberta enter the season as the No. 3 and No. 5-ranked teams in the Canada West coaches poll, with each team receiving a single first place vote.
Saskatchewan officially kicks off the 2025-26 season at 6:00 PM Friday night at the Physical Activity Complex (PAC).
2025-26 Canada West Coaches Poll (First Place Votes)
1. UBC Thunderbirds - 139 points (9)
2. TWU Spartans - 123 (2)
3. Saskatchewan Huskies - 115 (1)
4. Manitoba Bisons - 111
5. Alberta Golden Bears - 104 (1)
6. Brandon Bobcats - 88
7. Winnipeg Wesmen - 86
8. UBCO Heat - 61
9. Calgary Dinos - 58
10. MRU Cougars - 56
11. TRU Wolfpack - 36
12. UFV Cascades - 22
13. MacEwan Griffins - 15
Key Performers
Having returned nearly every student-athlete from their starting lineup a season ago, the Huskies boast several key contributors including
Emmett Graham,
Jacob Baird,
Isaiah Mamer,
Lucas Musschoot,
Noah Opseth, and
Ethan Smith.
Returning for his fifth and final season in green & white and ready to once again lead the Huskie attack is 2025 Canada West All-Star and U SPORTS All-Canadian
Emmett Graham. The 2024-25 season was a career year for the local Saskatoon product, with Graham finishing top 10 in the conference in several key statistical categories including points (7th, 290.5), kills (7th, 256), and hitting percentage (6th, .374) in addition to being just outside in total attacks with 486. The Huskies go-to outside hitter at times, Graham was also a key contributor come playoff time, recording at least 15 points in six of eight postseason matches.
Fellow Canada West All-Star
Jacob Baird will also look to take another step forward despite already being one of the best middle blockers in the conference. The Brisbane, Australia product earned the first all-star nod of his career a year ago thanks to a sensational season-long performance in which he finished 2nd in solo blocks (14), 6th in total blocks (67), and was one of the most efficient hitters in Canada West, converting at a 38.1% rate. The 2024-25 season saw Baird take a significant step forward in his production, nearly doubling his totals in each statistical category.
Another highly productive veteran attacker in
Isaiah Mamer also returns to the Huskie lineup in 2025-26. The fourth-year leftside hitter finished just behind Graham as the Huskies most productive offensive talent, recording 243.5 points and 221 kills, both among the top-15 in Canada West. The education & kinesiology major was another key contributor in the postseason as well, recording double-digit point totals in all but one playoff contest.
Third-year arts and science major
Lucas Musschoot solidifies the Huskie middles alongside Baird for another campaign in 2025-26. Coming off an incredible season of his own the former Canada West All-Rookie finished last season 4th in solo blocks with 13 and 9th in total blocks with 65, both career-highs for the local Saskatoon product.
In fourth-year setter
Noah Opseth, the Huskies return a soon-to-be program record holder. A Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, product, Opseth currently sits at a remarkable 2,542 career assists in just 262 sets played, trailing former Huskie student-athlete Cole Hints by just 48 assists for the program record. The career record is set to come after the veteran set a new single-season program record just two years ago in 2023-24.
Finally, the Huskies starting libero and captain
Ethan Smith, rounds out the returning Saskatchewan starters. A fourth-year kinesiology major from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Smith has proven himself as one of the most reliable liberos in the conference and in 2025-26 finished the season with 435 receptions and 155 digs, both second-most in Canada West.
