The first weekend of March brought with it an abundance of intense Huskies playoff action filled with both elation and heartbreak. Here are the latest updates on how the Huskies volleyball and basketball teams fared in their respective games. 

Men’s volleyball 

After finishing the season with a 9-9 record, the Huskies men’s volleyball team travelled to Edmonton for the first round of the Canada West Playoffs, a four-team tournament hosted by the Alberta Golden Bears. 

The Huskies showcased their resilience in their first game, completing a comeback victory against the UBC Thunderbirds. After winning the first set 25-19 thanks to their excellent .500 hitting percentage, the Huskies fell in consecutive sets and were down 2-1. However, fourth-year outside hitter Dylan Mortensen stepped up with 16 kills, and first-year Skyler Varga was clutch with 14 kills himself, soaring to the sky for the game-winning kill in a tight fifth set that ended with the Huskies on top 15-13.

The Huskies’ second game against the Golden Bears ended in a straight-sets victory for the hosts, but the Huskies bounced back with a straight-sets victory of their own, defeating the University of Fraser Valley Cascades in their third game. 

The Huskies head next to Langley, B.C., the home of the number-one ranked team in the nation, the Trinity Western Spartans, for the second round of the Canada West Playoffs from March 11–12.

Women’s volleyball 

The Huskies women’s volleyball team’s season came to a premature ending in the first round of Canada West Playoffs after their dominant 14-2 regular season showing.

As the first seed in the East division, the Huskies were awarded home court and hosted a three-team tournament at the PAC. In their first game, they defeated the Manitoba Bisons in four-sets, with fifth-year outside hitter Emily Koshinsky’s 15 kills and five service aces being key to victory. 

The Huskies faced the UBC Okanagan Heat in their second game, starting off with a tense first set victory where Koshinsky delivered the set-winning kill. However, it was all Heat from that point forward, as they rattled off three straight set victories to defeat the Huskies. 

Having split their first two games, the Huskies required a win against national number-five Mount Royal Cougars to advance. They were unable to do so, losing the game 3-0. 

Regardless of the ending, it was a historic season for the Huskies who earned national recognition as they ranked sixth in the nation entering the playoffs. Koshinsky cemented herself as the program’s all-time leader in kills, leaving a splendid mark in her final year of play. 

Men’s basketball 

The Canada West basketball playoffs adopted a new single-elimination tournament to determine the Final Four, and the Huskies men’s basketball team answered the call in Lethbridge. 

With an 11-5 record, the Huskies ranked fourth in Canada West and were awarded with a bye to the second round, where they faced the Brandon Bobcats on March 4. During the regular season, the Huskies won all four of their games against the Bobcats. The trend continued in the playoffs, with third-year guard Marquavian Stephens’ 30 points powering the Huskies to a 101-76 victory. 

The following night, the Huskies ousted the fifth-seeded UBC Thunderbirds, winning an 88-87 thriller. Down 86-87 with less than 30 seconds to go, fourth-year guard Chan De Ciman froze his defender and drove to the rim, drawing a foul and subsequently knocking down the free throws to finish with 19 points. UBC was unable to score on a frantic final possession, and the Huskies held on to earn a trip to the Canada West Final Four. 

The Huskies have a daunting challenge ahead, as they face the undefeated Alberta Golden Bears in the semi-final on March 18 in Edmonton 

Women’s basketball 

The Huskies women’s basketball team clinched the number one seed in Canada West with their 14-2 regular season record, earning a bye to the third round of the tournament in Calgary. As the defending national champions, they didn’t miss a beat, defeating the University of Calgary Dinos 72-62. 

The Huskies found themselves trailing 27-19 after the first quarter, but clawed their way back into the game, capping off their comeback with a buzzer-beating three by third-year guard Carly Ahlstrom to end the first half. She led the Huskies with 24 points on the night, with first-year guard Gage Grassick adding 16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench to send the Huskies to the Canada West Final Four. 

As the top team in the conference, the Huskies get the privilege of hosting the Final Four at the PAC. The action begins on March 18, when the Huskies host the fifth-seed Lethbridge Pronghorns in the semi-final. 

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Uday Chhina | Sports and Health Editor

Photos: Nicholas Saretzky/Contributing Photojournalist and Yasmine El-Gayed