LANGLEY, B.C. – The Trinity Western Spartans dropped the first two sets before rallying for a five-set victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The 28-30, 18-25, 25-15, 25-13, 15-9 win improves the Spartans to 7-12, while the loss drops the Huskies to 10-9.
Third-year outside Maryn Boldon with 24 kills, 13 digs, and two service aces, fourth-year middle Kaylee Plouffe with 23 kills, nine digs, six blocks, and two aces, and third-year outside Faye Murray with 10 kills, and nine digs led the Spartans. While Rosetta Cyr with 14 kills, 12 digs, and two aces, and Keely Anderson with 13 kills, five blocks, and two aces led the Huskies.
Rookie setter Tayana Dmitruk finished with 46 set assists, and two service aces for the Spartans. While Tielle Hagel finished with 45 set assists and 13 digs for the Huskies.
The Spartans started strong to open the match and took an early 10-2 lead after a Plouffe kill. But the Huskies responded and were able to tie the set at 14-14 with a 12-4 run, after a TWU attack error. The two teams exchanged points to 17-17 when the Huskies got separation with a 23-20 lead. But TWU responded with three straight points to tie the set at 23-23. TWU got to set point, 26-25, after a Boldon kill. After an exchange of points, Saskatchewan got to set point at 28-27 but a service error tied the set at 28-28. The Huskies were able to take the next two points and the set after a kill by Taryn Hannah. TWU hit at .237 (14-5-38), while Saskatchewan hit at .186 (21-10-59).
The Huskies were better to start the second set and quickly took an 8-4 lead. The Spartans battled back and after an Isabella Stothart kill had cut the deficit to one point, trailing 11-10. Saskatchewan quickly took control of the set with a 10-3 run to take a 21-14 lead after a service ace by Tielle Hagel. Saskatchewan kept rolling and took the set 25-18, and a 2-1 set lead. TWU hit at .212 (12-5-33), while Saskatchewan hit at .371 (15-2-35).
TWU battled back in the third set and jumped out to an early 9-3 lead after Plouffe and Payton Lightfoot blocked Hannah. Saskatchewan rallied and after three straight points had cut the TWU lead to two points, trailing 12-10. But the Spartans continued their strong play in the set and used a 10-4 run to take a 22-14 lead after a Faye Murray kill. TWU finished off the set 25-18 win and cut the deficit to 2-1. TWU hit at .371 (16-3-35), while Saskatchewan hit at .147 (9-4-34).
The Spartans continued their better play into the fourth set and quickly took a 12-4 lead after a Murray kill. But the Huskies responded, after a timeout, with a 5-1 run, and forced TWU into a timeout leading 13-9. Out of the break TWU responded and with Boldon extending the Spartans lead to 16-10. The Huskies cut the lead with three straight points before the Spartans took four of their own to lead 20-13 after a Stothart kill and force Saskatchewan into a timeout. The Spartans Dmitruk continued her serving run of eight straight serves to give TWU the fourth set 25-13 and tie the match at 2-2. TWU hit at .323 (13-3-31), while Saskatchewan hit at .074 (7-5-27).
TWU took the early lead, 7-4, and had Saskatchewan taking a timeout before the Spartans led 8-4 at the change-over. TWU continued to dominate the final set getting to set point, 14-8, after a Boldon kill. The Huskies held off one match point before xxx put the set and the match away giving TWU the 15-9 win and the match 3-2.
The Spartans and Huskies will finish the weekend series tomorrow night with the final games of Canada West conference play. The match time is set for 6:00 PM and will be streamed live on Canada West TV.