SASKATOON, Sask. – After earning a bye through the opening round of the Canada West Men’s Volleyball Playoffs, the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Huskies are set to make their postseason debut this week when they host the Trinity Western Spartans in a conference quarter-final series.
HUSKIE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Canada West Playoffs | Quarter-Final Series
Saskatchewan Huskies (14-6, No. 4-seed) vs Trinity Western Spartans (12-8, No. 5-seed)
Game 1 – Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Game 2 – Friday, February 28, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Game 3 – Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 3:00 PM *if necessary*
Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court at the Physical Activity Complex (PAC) | Saskatoon, Sask.
TICKETS | CANADAWEST.TV | LIVESTATS | CW PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court at the Physical Activity Complex will feature a familiar matchup this weekend when the USask Huskie men’s volleyball team takes the court to face off with the TWU Spartans. Last weekend, Saskatchewan’s women’s counterpart defeated the Spartans in a playoff series of their own to advance to the quarter-final round. The Huskie men’s team will be looking to keep the home success going and book their ticket to the Canada West Final Four.
Thursday’s Game 1 meeting between the Dogs and Spartans will be the third meeting between the two teams this season, the 76th all-time, and ninth postseason game. In their nine postseason meetings, six have come during the Canada West playoffs, where TWU holds the edge with a 5-1 record. The two programs have also met twice at the U SPORTS National Championships, with each team having earned a win.
In their regular season finale meeting in Langley, BC, the Spartans captured a first-game straight-sets sweep before the Huskies answered with a sweep of their own in the second game of their doubleheader. By the end of the weekend, the two squads had exchanged nearly identical blows, matching each other in virtually every major statistic.
The outcome in Langley should have come as little surprise, considering the two teams ranked closely in most statistical season-long categories in the conference, with the lone exception of digs per set, where the Huskies own a 9.81 to 7.49 defensive advantage.
The winner of this weekend’s quarter-final series will advance to the Final Four and take on the winner of the 8th-seeded Manitoba Bisons (9-11) at the top-seeded Winnipeg Wesmen’s (17-3) quarter-final series.
Looking ahead to the U SPORTS Championship tournament, set to be hosted by the Brandon Bobcats, Canada West will receive two automatic bids (other two medalists) if the Bobcats capture a medal in the Canada West playoffs. If Brandon does not secure a medal, the top three teams at the end of the conference postseason will earn admittance to the national tournament in Brandon.
Head-to-Head vs TWU
All-Time: 19-56 Spartans
Last 10 Meetings: 4-6 Spartans
Playoff Record: 2-6 Spartans
Last playoff Meeting: L 0-3 (CW Playoff Rd. 2 – Feb. 2022)
2024-25 Record: 1-1 (L 0-3, W 3-0 – Feb. 2025)
Game 1: 22-25, 21-25, 20-25 – BOX SCORE
Game 2: 25-22, 30-28, 25-17 – BOX SCORE
2024-25 Head-to-Head Stats
(2 games, 6 sets)
| SSK |
|
TWU |
| 103 |
Points |
104 |
| 80 |
Kills |
72 |
| 11 |
Aces |
15 |
| 10 |
Blocks |
17 |
| 77 |
Assists |
66 |
| 57 |
Digs |
45 |
| 0.277 |
% |
0.269 |
Team Stats (Conference Rank)
|
SSK (14-6) |
TWU (12-8) |
| PTS/S |
16.1 (3rd) |
15.1 (T-5th) |
| K/S |
12.71 (2nd) |
11.48 (5th) |
| D/S |
9.81 (2nd) |
7.49 (12th) |
| B/S |
1.99 (8th) |
2.08 (4th) |
| PCT |
.298 (3rd) |
.365 (5th) |
Team Leaders (Conference Rank)
|
SSK |
TWU |
| PTS |
Emmett Graham – 289.5 (7th) |
Piers de Greeff – 296.0 (6th) |
| K |
Emmett Graham – 255 (7th) |
Piers de Greeff – 263 (T-4th) |
| BLK |
Jacob Baird – 67 (6th) |
Cory Schoenherr – 59 (13th) |
| DIG |
Ethan Smith – 155 (2nd) |
Kaden Schmidt – 112 (T-19th) |
| AST |
Noah Opseth – 842 (1st) |
Anselm Rein – 552 (9th) |
| PCT |
Jacob Baird – .381 (5th) |
Piers de Greeff – .273 (19th) |
Last 5 Games
| SSK (4-1) |
TWU (2-3) |
| 02/15/2025 |
W, 3-0 @ #8 TWU |
02/15/2025 |
L, 0-3 vs #7 SSK |
| 02/14/2025 |
L, 0-3 @ #8 TWU |
02/14/2025 |
W, 3-0 vs #7 SSK |
| 02/01/2025 |
W, 3-1 vs UBCO |
02/07/2025 |
W, 3-1 @ UFV |
| 01/31/2025 |
W, 3-0 vs UBCO |
02/06/2025 |
L, 2-3 vs UFV |
| 01/25/2025 |
W, 3-1 @ #3 WPG |
01/25/2025 |
L, 0-3 @ CGY |
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