Tanner Michalenko, Saskatchewan Sports Information Student Assistant
SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies swept the UBC Okanagan Heat with a second straight 3-0 victory (25-20, 29-27, 25-19) Saturday night on Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court at the PAC.
With the win and sweep, Saskatchewan went 6-2 in January and improved to 9-11 in the season. The Heat drop to 5-13.
First-year Dylan Mortensen led the Huskies with a match-high 14 kills, seven digs and two service aces. Fourth-year Colin Fraser added another 12 kills and five digs.
For the Heat, fifth-year Lars Bornemann had 13 kills and six digs, while first-year Max Heppell and third-year Devon Cote each had nine kills.
Second-year Aidan Saladana led the Huskies in the first with five kills, two of them coming back-to-back as part of a 4-0 Huskie run in the middle of the set to build a lead. The Huskies protected that lead throughout the set as Fraser recorded the final two kills for Saskatchewan, taking the set 25-20.
In the second, it was the Heat playing with the lead until Saskatchewan eventually clawed back to a 19-19 tie. The Huskies would show no quit later on when the Heat earned two separate match point opportunities. Finally tied again at 27-27, Fraser and Mortensen sealed the win with the final two kills fort he 29-27 win.
In the third set, third-year Daulton Sinoski gave Saskatchewan a boost at the service. Sinoski took over the service up 10-8 and quickly delivered two aces as part of a 4-0 run. Despite a late 4-0 run by the Heat, the Huskies avoided a fourth set as Mortensen made the final kill in the 25-19 win.
The Huskies are the on road for the remainder of the season, travelling to Edmonton to meet the Alberta Golden Bears next weekend. The Heat will go on to play a home-and-home series with the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.