The Huskies men’s volleyball team improved their record to 9-9 after sweeping the University of Calgary Dinos. Following the wins the Dogs are now tied for sixth place in the in the Canada West division with the Dinos.
The two teams battled for five sets on Friday night with the Huskies eventually prevailing 3-2 (25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 25-27, 16-14).
Tied at 21 in the first set the Huskies were able to slowly pull ahead and eventually captured the set 25-23. Untimely errors cost the Dinos in the second set and the Huskies took a 2-0 lead after another Dino error.
The Dinos were in control for most of the third and from 16-14 they continued to outpace the Huskies and eventually clinched the set 25-20.
The two teams battled for the fourth set and were evenly matched throughout. Tied at 25, the Dinos landed two straight kills to send the match into the decider.
The fifth set was the same story, with neither team able to keep their nose in front. The Huskies held a set point at 14-13 but it was quickly snuffed out by a kill from the Dinos. Kills by Bryan Fraser and Tyler Epp on the next two points gave the Dogs the set.
Paul Thompson led the Dogs with 17 points and 11 digs. Fraser and Jordan Nowakowski each added 12 points and Emory Wells contributed 36 assists.
The Huskies had an easier time on Saturday night with a 3-1 (26-24, 24-26, 25-21, 25-16) win.
Down 20-24 in the first set, the Pronghorns were able to fight off four set points to tie the score but two straight Fraser kills wrapped up the opener.
The second set was a mirror image of the first with the Dinos holding two set points at 24-22 but this time the Dogs were able to level the score at 24. The Dinos stole the next two points to level the match at one set all.
The Huskies began to pull away from 16-16 in the third and took a two sets to one lead after Thomson sealed the set with a kill. The fourth set belonged to the Dogs from early on as they built a 12-3 lead. The Huskies worked their way to 24-16 and ended the match with a service ace.
Fraser recorded a game-high 21 kills and seven digs. Thomson added 10 kills and Zak Rempel landed 32 assists.
The Huskies face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.