Tanner Michalenko, Saskatchewan Sports Information Student Assistant
SASKATOON – The No. 8 ranked University of Winnipeg Wesmen remained perfect in Canada West men's volleyball defeating the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in 3-1 (22-25, 27-25, 26-24, 28-26) Friday night at the PAC.
Fifth-year David Bommersbach recorded a team-high 17 kills for the Wesmen, with six digs and an assist. Third-year Adrian Dyck chipped in with nine kills and five digs.
The Huskies had three with double-digit kill contributors as fourth-year Colin Fraser recorded match-high 20, first-year Dylan Mortensen had 15 and second-year Connor Murray had 12. Second-year CJ Gavlas recorded a match-high 50 assists and 10 digs – also a match-high.
With the win, Winnipeg's season remains perfect at 5-0. Saskatchewan continues to look for its first win of the season, at 0-5.
Saskatchewan took the first set 25-22, but didn't have a lead larger than three in the game.
With the score at 10-6 for the Huskies in the second set, Winnipeg called a timeout following back-to-back blocks by Gavlas. The Wesmen would crawl back to even the score at 20. The Huskies earned a set-point opportunity, but failed to capitalize. Winnipeg would score three straight to come back for a 27-25 win.
In the third game, Gavlas would set up Murray on back-to-back kills to give the Huskies their biggest lead of the match at 20-14. The Wesmen would come right back, scoring seven straight. Bommersbach closed the win for the Wesmen at 26-24.
An early 6-1 run would give the Huskies a slight lead in the fourth set at 8-5. The lead would quickly be erased by a 7-3 run by the Wesmen. Both teams traded points the rest of the way as neither could stretch a lead larger than one. Dyck would put away a kill to put the Wesmen in a match-point opportunity, and a Huskie attack error sealed the 28-26 Winnipeg win.
The Huskies and Wesmen meet again Saturday night on Ron & Jane Graham Court at the PAC. First serve is at 8 p.m.