SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies closed the 2016-17 campaign with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-15) victory over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Saturday night on Ron & Jane Graham Court at the PAC.
Despite the Saskatchewan win, a weekend split between the Mount Royal Cougars and Winnipeg Wesmen, ended the Huskies hope at a postseason spot. Saskatchewan finishes the season just one spot out of a playoff position at 13-11, while the WolfPack end the year at 2-22.
It is the first time the Canada West postseason will not include the Saskatchewan Huskies since 2011-12.
Playing in their final games as Huskies, fifth-yearsTyler Epp, Andrew Nelson, Zak Rempel and Troy Wiebe all contributed for the Huskies on Saturday. Epp finished the night with five kills, while Rempel added another two kills including the match clincher. Nelson led the Huskies with a match-high 18 kills. Wiebe racked up 34 assists and a pair of digs setting for Saskatchewan.
Thompson Rivers was led by its lone fifth-year Daniel Eikland Rod. The WolfPack senior recorded 10 kills in addition to his eight digs. Setter Jakob Hamilton led the visitors in digs with eight while recording 31 assists.
Saskatchewan got off to a strong start taking an early first set lead at 9-3. The WolfPack worked their way back rallying for a 14-13 lead before the teams would trade points back and forth. Tied at 22, the Huskies would squeeze out three of the final four points for the first set win.
In the second set, it was Thompson Rivers pulling ahead early. The WolfPack took the first three points and held on to a slim advantage until a 7-0 Huskie spurt but the home squad ahead 17-13. Saskatchewan would maintain the four-point cushion for the majority of the set, winning 25-21.
In the final set, the Huskies took a commanding 10-5 lead early, building it to 16-6. The 10-point deficit would be too much to overcome for the WolfPack as the Huskies closed the curtain on the season with a 25-15 win.