SASKATOON, Sask. – The University of Saskatchewan Huskie men’s volleyball team kicked off their home weekend with a gritty, hard fought battle against the U SPORTS No. 10-ranked Brandon Bobcats Friday night (Nov. 7). This marked the two program’s first meeting since the 2025 U SPORTS semifinals. In a thrilling five set showdown that swung in momentum throughout, the Huskies came up just short, falling 3-2 to the visiting Bobcats.
With the loss, the Huskies fall to 2-5 while the Bobcats improve to 3-2.
Saskatchewan came out firing, taking control early and riding confident swings and steady serving to claim the first two sets. Isaiah Mamer paced the offence with efficiency, finishing with 15 kills and adding seven digs defensively. Emmett Graham was equally impactful at the net, contributing 14 kills and two aces, while Aaron Elser made his presence felt at the service line with a match high five aces to fuel the early Huskie momentum.
Holding a 2–0 advantage, Saskatchewan appeared confident to close things out, but Brandon responded with key adjustments in the third set, tightening up blocking schemes and cutting down on errors. Setter Noah Opseth continued to run the offence smoothly, dishing out 48 assists, yet the Huskies couldn’t quite capitalize in pivotal late points. The Bobcats swung momentum their way, taking the next two sets 25–20 and 25–23 to force a deciding fifth.
The final set lived up to the intensity of the matchup, with both sides trading blows in a tight race to the finish. Saskatchewan battled with grit. Libero Ethan Smith anchored the backcourt with eight digs, and Mathieu Methot added 11 kills and three blocks to keep the Huskies in striking distance. However, despite leading early, Saskatchewan couldn’t withstand Brandon’s late surge, falling 15–12 in a hard-fought finale.
The Huskies’ fight was undeniable, matching the same drive that took them deep into last year’s national championship run. With strong serving, balanced offence, and continued chemistry between Opseth and his hitter, Saskatchewan remains a tough opponent.
They’ll look to even the weekend series when the teams meet again Saturday at the PAC. First serve is set for 3:00 PM.