Huskies Battle Back to Edge Gaels 3-1 in Thrilling Quarterfinal, Advance to U SPORTS Semis

BRANDON, Man. – Second Team All-Canadian Emmett Graham, CW All-Star Jacob Baird and teammate Isaiah Mamer combined for 47 kills to lead the No. 5 Saskatchewan Huskies to a 3-1 win (20-25, 25-19, 29-27, 25-23) over the No. 4 Queen’s Gaels, in the fourth quarterfinal on Friday (Mar. 21) of the 2025 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship Presented by Sunrise Credit Union. 

Baird also registered a .519 efficiency while Mamer recorded seven digs and Noah Opseth had 47 assists, as the Huskies recorded the first win of the day to go beyond three sets, after all other quarterfinals ended in sweeps. After falling in the opening frame, Saskatchewan won the next three straight, including the penultimate set in extra points. 

Reed Venning contributed 14 kills and Second Team All-Canadian Zig Licis had 13, to go along with eight digs and seven block assists in a losing cause for Queen’s. Toby Jeffries also had 12 digs. 

Both teams were fairly even in hitting percentage, with Saskatchewan at .273, compared to .271 for Queen’s

With the win, Saskatchewan advances to face host No. 8 Brandon in Saturday’s semifinal, while Queen’s take on No. 1 Winnipeg in the consolation round. 

The Huskies and Bobcats met twice during the regular season in Brandon, with the Cats taking the first in five sets before the Dogs answered with a four-set win on November 8 and 9.