Photo credit: globalnews.ca

Huskies Men’s Volleyball Team Kicks Off Season Strongly

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s volleyball team has finally filled the court with action as they begin their Canada West season after two weeks of waiting. The team came out notably strong against the Mount Royal Cougars, achieving a decisive two-game sweep.

“It was a lot of pressure with teams already being 4-0,” expressed Huskies middle blocker Jacob Baird. “Getting those first two wins was really big for us and just proving ourselves in the league.”

Last year, the Huskies concluded the regular season with a commendable 16-8 record. Despite facing notable departures due to graduation, they managed to qualify for the playoffs, where they encountered a tough matchup against the UBC Thunderbirds in the Canada West quarterfinals. Fortunately for the team, most of their players have returned for the 2024-25 season.

“Everyone was kind of counting us out last year,” added right side hitter Emmett Graham. “It was like, ‘Oh these Huskies aren’t going to be very good.’ We’ve just rallied, persevered, and positioned ourselves as a top team in this conference.”

National Recognition

With their early success, the Huskies have quickly secured the eighth position in the U Sports national rankings, reflecting their impressive performance in their limited appearances so far this season.

Head coach Sean McKay is optimistic about the team’s capabilities, suggesting they could contend for the program’s fifth Canadian title. “I think the guys are starting to learn what it means to be a ‘Dog’ more and more,” McKay stated. “We are beginning to establish our standard, consistently hitting that standard in practice, and demonstrating the effort necessary to secure a national championship.”

As they look ahead, McKay emphasizes that the Huskies have set a higher benchmark this season compared to last. The team’s mindset is one of unity and resilience, embracing an ‘us against the world’ mentality.

“I think often maybe our program is overlooked a little bit, which is alright,” he noted. “We’ll take that; we don’t mind being underdogs. We know what we can achieve if we give our all, and that belief is becoming clearer.”

The Huskies are set to embark on their first road trip of the season, facing the University of Brandon Bobcats in a two-game series this Friday.

Source
globalnews.ca