Women’s basketball 

The defending national champions are on a roll. The Huskies have been utterly dominant to begin their 2021-22 season, currently undefeated with a 4-0 record. 

 The team was firing on all cylinders against the Brandon Bobcats on Oct. 29 and 30, winning 104-54 in game one, and 96-32 in game two. 

The Huskies’ offence was very productive, with five players scoring in double digits in game one, led by third-year guard Carly Ahlstrom’s impressive 31-point outing.  Fifth-year guard Libby Epoch and fifth-year forward Summer Masikewich each scored an efficient 20 points in game two, both shooting over 60% from the field. 

Their defence was equally effective, holding the Bobcats to less than 55 points in both outings. Numerous guards were disruptive on that end, as five Huskie players recorded at least two steals each in game one. First-year guard Gage Grassick recorded five steals in game two. 

The following weekend, the Huskies played provincial rival Regina Rams twice at home. Head Coach Lisa Thomaidis’ squad added another two wins to their record, winning 81-48 in game one and 82-52 in game two. 

Masikewich was the star of the weekend, shining on both ends of the floor. She scored 27 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and recorded five blocks in game one and was just as impressive in game two, with 29 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. She is now top five in both points and rebounds per game in the Canada West conference. 

Men’s basketball 

The men’s team, ranked second in Canada West according to a preseason coaches’ poll, split their opening four games with two wins in Brandon and two losses against Regina at home. 

The Huskies defeated Brandon 94-79 in game one, with the team collectively on fire, shooting 62% from the field. The starting five were brilliant offensively in game two, contributing 62 out of the team’s 91 points in a 91-75 victory. 

Against Regina, the Huskies fell in consecutive games, 87-76 and 82-74, respectively. Regina led game one all the way through, but the Huskies responded strongly in game two, leading by seven points after three quarters. However, Regina stormed back in the fourth quarter to ultimately take the win by eight points. 

Despite third-year guards Alexander Dewar and Marquavian Stephens scoring their season high in points in games one and two, respectively, the Huskies offence could not find their groove, shooting under 39% from the field in both games. 

Both the men’s and women’s teams will travel to Regina for a doubleheader on Nov. 26 and 27. 

Women’s volleyball 

Huskie women’s volleyball is on a three-game winning streak after dropping their first game of the season to the Brandon Bobcats. 

The team lost 3-1 to Brandon on Nov. 5, but delivered a straight sets 3-0 victory the next day. The Huskies doubled the Bobcats’ hitting percentage in game two with .300 compared to the Bobcats’ .142. 

Third-year players Olivia Mattern and Mandi Fraser were crucial in the Huskie win, as Mattern had a game high 12 kills while Fraser recorded a game high six blocks. 

This stellar form continued as the Huskies swept their home opening weekend against the Bisons. In game one, the team won once again in straight sets, with fifth-year Emily Koshinsky’s 14 kills being instrumental to the win. 

Koshinsky’s success continued as she added 10 more kills to her Huskies career in a 3-2 victory in game two. Koshinsky surpassed the all-time record for kills in the program, and now is the sole leader with 1038 kills and counting. 

Men’s volleyball

The Huskies men’s volleyball team is currently 1-3 on the season after dropping their two games against the Brandon Bobcats and splitting their home opening weekend with the Manitoba Bisons 1-1. 

The squad came up short in two tightly contested matchups against the Bobcats, falling in five sets in both games. Fourth-year Dylan Mortensen led the team with 28 kills and seven aces across both games. 

After a 3-1 defeat to the Bisons in game one, the Huskies flipped the script with a 3-1 victory in game two. In addition to Mortensen’s game high 18 kills, first-year Skyler Varga’s 10 kills and fourth-year Levi Olson’s four blocks helped the Huskies get their first win of the season. 

Men’s and women’s volleyball will take the court next for a pair of games on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27, visiting the Winnipeg Wesmen.

Uday Chhina | Sports and Health Editor

Photos: As Credited