WINNIPEG – For the second year in a row and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's volleyball team are off the playoffs after they picked up a 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 22-25, 20-25) win over the Manitoba Bisons Friday night  inside the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

The win locks Saskatchewan into a Canada West playoff spot with a 10-11 record, while the loss sees Manitoba slip down the standings to 7-14 and out of the Canada West playoff picture. Regardless of the result tomorrow night the Huskies will finish seventh in the conference and head to Edmonton for a best-of-three series with the Alberta Pandas next weekend.

"We were a bit shaky to start the game tonight but once the boys shook off the nerves I thought we settled in nicely," said Huskies head coach Sean McKay."It was obviously a big weekend for us so I am glad the guys were able to turn this one around after a poor start."

Huskie fifth-year Cole Burkart had a game-high 20 kills in the match while Owen Schwartz led the way for the Bisons with 17.

"Owen's been our steadiest guy all season long," stated Bisons head coach Garth Pischke. "He has had such a positive influence on the court for the guys this season. I am very impressed with the way he has been playing."

Manitoba got off to the right start by taking the first set 25-18. Third-year Owen Schwartz chipped in four kills in the set while second-year Zach Janzen led the team with five. Schwartz put up a huge block late in to put the Bisons in position to clinch the first set and did so just two points later. 

Down 22-17 with the Bisons in full control, the Huskies battled their way back with five straight points to tie the second set at 22-22. Saskatchewan completed the comeback thanks in large part to the Huskies' Burkart who put down nine kills in the set to help the visitors earn a 25-22 second set victory. 

With Manitoba and Saskatchewan now tied at one set each, it was the Huskies who carried the momentum into the third set going up 4-0, forcing Pischke to take an early timeout. The visitors eventually found themselves up 16-13 at the technical timeout. The two sides went point-for-point the rest of the way and Saskatchewan took the third set 25-22. Huskies fourth-year Connor Murray led the way with six kills in the set.

In the fourth, both teams continued to battle for a lead and it was the Huskies once again enjoying a slim 16-15 at the technical timeout of the fourth set.  With Saskatchewan now up 24-20, Burkart put down his 20^th kill of the match to clinch the victory for the Huskies. 

The Bisons and Huskies will return to the Investors Group Athletic Centre at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow for what will be the final regular season match for both teams.