Movin' on: Huskies down Dinos, qualify for v'ball nationals

It was standing-room only at a packed PAC as the Huskies defeated the Calgary Dinos 3-1 Friday.

SASKATOON, SASK: Friday, March 10 - 0311 sports huskies vball - Huskies' Quinn Buchanan screams in excitement after his win against the Calgary Dinos Friday night for Canada West bronze at the PAC. The winner advances to nationals. Photo taken in Saskatoon, Sask. on Friday, March 10, 2023.Photo by Michelle Berg /Michelle Berg

Huskies 3, Dinos 1

Nationals, here they come.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s volleyball squad shook off an opening-set loss and rallied for three straight wins in a 3-1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-22, 25-19) victory over the University of Calgary Dinos in the Canada West bronze-medal match Friday night before a packed Physical Activity Complex.

With the win, Saskatchewan earns the third-and-final Canada  West conference berth in the upcoming U Sports national men’s volleyball championship at Hamilton, Ont., next week.

“The guys were pretty pumped up, ” U of S head coach Sean McKay said of qualifying Friday.

“The coaching staff, along with that, set a goal at the start of the year to be at nationals and, at that point, it was a pretty lofty goal and something that probably a lot of people didn’t think they could achieve.

“So it’s really, really cool to be going to the dance after they set their minds to it.”

They’re also now the last U of S Huskies team still standing this season.

SASKATOON, SASK: Friday, March 10 – 0311 sports huskies vball – Huskies fans and team celebrate their win against the Calgary Dinos Friday night for Canada West bronze at the PAC. The winner advances to nationals. Photo taken in Saskatoon, Sask. on Friday, March 10, 2023.Photo by Michelle Berg /Michelle Berg

It was a hard-fought win for the Huskies, who failed to close out the first set despite serving for set point and leading 24-22. The Dinos battled back for four straight points to take that first set.

Saskatchewan took the next two sets before pulling away for the decisive victory in the fourth to clinch the match and nationals berth.

Rookie Isaiah Mamer — a Wilkie product whose dad played football for the U of S Huskies — had the match-winning kill for the Huskies. Mamer finished the night with eight kills, 10 digs and three service aces.

Graduating fifth-year senior Dylan Mortensen had a match-high 24 kills for Saskatchewan to go along with eight digs, two blocks and a service ace. He recorded 26 points Friday night.

Fellow fifth-year grad Levi Olson added 12 kills, eight service aces and registered 21 points.

Quinn Buchanan, who is also graduating from the program after this season, chipped in with 12 kills and six blocks.

“We’re at the point now where your big dogs have to play well to get the job done,” said McKay. “And, tonight, our older guys showed up well with Jake (Rapin), Quinn, Morty and Levi.”

Libero Ethan Smith had 10 digs and three assists.

Huskies’ Quinn Buchanan competes against the Calgary Dinos Friday night for Canada West bronze at the PAC. The winner advances to nationals. Photo taken in Saskatoon, Sask. on Friday, March 10, 2023.Photo by Michelle Berg /Michelle Berg

Liam Kuppe led Calgary with 12 kills to go along with four blocks.

Louis Kunstmann added nine kills and five blocks for the Dinos. Lincoln Baines led Calgary with six blocks.

Announced attendance was 1,375 in what was standing room-only at the PAC with half the stands in use.

“It was pretty amazing — the crowd was absolutely jammed in there, making tons of noise,” said McKay. “Not only were they fans, they were rowdy ones. It was cool to see the Saskatoon community and U-Sask community come out and cheer us on.

“We like an engaged crowd, a nice (densely seated) crowd.”

DOG TALES: The Huskies will leave Wednesday for Hamilton, where the national championship will be staged at McMaster University. They’ll play their quarter-final match Friday … Tournament seeding and matches are to be released Sunday.