SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies bounced back against the MacEwan University Griffins Saturday night on Ron & Jane Graham court at the PAC, winning in five sets (20-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-16, 15-8)
The Huskies entered the fourth set down 2-1 and subsequently played their best volleyball of the night over the final two sets, limiting MacEwan to just 24 points total.
A night earlier, the Griffins needed five sets to upset the Huskies, earning their first win of the year.
The win moves Saskatchewan back to .500 at 8-8, while MacEwan drops to 1-13.
Second-year Emily Koshinsky recorded a match-high 19 kills and a team-high 15 digs. Fourth-year Regan Wiebe chipped in another 17 kills and 12 digs.
For MacEwan, fifth-year Cassidy Kinsella had 14 kills and six digs, while third-year McKenna Stevenson contributed 12 kills.
MacEwan's 10-2 run in the middle of the first set seemed to set them up for an easy win, but the Huskies came right back with a 9-2 run of their own to make things interesting. The Griffins would call a timeout after the Huskie rally and go on a 5-2 run to secure the 25-20 win in set one, capped off by third-year Haley Gilfillan's service ace.
The Huskies jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the second. Just as the Griffins seemed to gain some momentum, Saskatchewan put together an 8-2 run that widened the lead even further. Koshinksy provided two of the last kills as the Huskies took the second set 25-17.
In the third, the Huskies started strong with an early 9-4 lead. The lead was short-lived. MacEwan's 8-2 run tied things at 13. From there, it was tough sledding for both teams trying to separate themselves. Third-year Hailey Cornelis's service ace put the Griffins in match-point opportunity at 26-25. The Huskies would stay alive grabbing the next point but dropping the next two, losing 28-26.
The fourth was all Saskatchewan. Never surrendering the lead throughout the set, third-year Taylor Annala capped it off with three of the last four points, including a service ace to seal the win for the Huskies, 25-16.
Annala kept her momentum going into the final set, providing back-to-back kills as part of a 6-2 opening lead to force a MacEwan timeout. After the timeout, the Griffins would narrow the lead to 8-7, but that is as close as they came. The Huskies would go on a 7-1 run to secure the match victory.
The Huskies will travel to Thompson Rivers University to take on the WolfPack next weekend. The Griffins will head home to host the Mount Royal University Cougars.