Courtesy of Dan Ackerman, University of Waterloo Sports Information / Photo credit Josh Schaefer Photography

SASKATOON (CIS) – The No. 8 seeded University of Saskatchewan Huskies used a dominating net performance to top the RSEQ champion and No. 4 seed Universite Laval Rouge et Or 3-1 (19-25, 26-24, 25-15, 25-14) in the second consolation semifinal Friday afternoon at the 2015 CIS Men’s Volleyball Championship at the Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon.

Post-game coaches interview

With the win, the host-Huskies will face the No. 7 seed York University Lions for fifth-place at the national tournament. York defeated the Waterloo Warriors earlier in the day in the other consolation semifinal. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1985 when the Huskies defeated the Lions in a CIS quarter-final in straight sets.

The Huskies put down 16 team blocks in the contest with third-year middle blocker Tyler Epp leading the way with two solo blocks and eight assisted. Laval could only muster three blocks as a team.  Also getting in on the Huskies blocking show was middle blocker Robert Graham and Matthew Busse, who each had six assisted blocks in the win.

Saskatchewan’s attack was dictated by fourth-year left side Jordan Nowakowski with 17 kills and 19.5 points.  He was also stellar defensively with seven digs.  Busse and Graham were also in double digits in the kill category with 12 and 11 respectively.

Huskie head coach Brian Gavlas believes Saskatchewan gained confidence after the second set win and that allowed for a mix in the offensive plan.

“Offensively, you gain your confidence from passing the ball well,” said Huskie head coach Brian Gavlas. “Our middle guys dominated their middles well. If you can run all three or four of your attackers, it makes it pretty difficult. Jordan hit a couple pipes with no block because our middles were so effective.”

Vincente Ignacio Parraguirre Villalobos led Laval with 19 points in the match on 17 kills, one service and one block.  Aiding Villalobos in the attack was third-year outside Bruno Lortie with 10 kills in the losing effort.  Lortie also led his team in digs with eight

“Our play was not good enough,” said Laval head coach Pascal Clement. “Unfortunately, it’s too difficult to come back from a big deficit. It’s times like these where we have an opportunity to develop character.”

The Rouge et Or would take the home crowd out of in the early going earning a 12-8 advantage and holding on to it throughout the opening set.  Laval’s Lortie was unstoppable putting away seven kills on 13 attempts to give Laval the set, 25-19.

Laval continued to silence the crowd in the second set jumping out to a 9-6 lead but the Huskies would put away nine of the next 12 points for the 15-12 lead.   Laval would claw their way back thanks to four straight service points by Frederic Bolduc giving the Rouge et Or a 21-19 lead.  Saskatchewan would battle back to take a 23-22 lead thanks to back-to-back kills by Nowakowski.  The two squads would exchange points before a Hugo Leger hitting error would hand the Huskies the set, 26-24.

The Huskies brought over their success from the second set into the third jumping out to an early 8-3 lead.  Nowakowski’s outside dominance paired with sound blocking by Epp and Busse put the Huskies in the driver’s seat as the host side would cruise to the third set victory, 25-15.



Up 2-1, the Huskies were determined to end this in the fourth and it would be Epp who would lead the way with three straight blocks on one point followed by a solo block the next to give his squad a 9-5 lead.  The Saskatchewan block party would continue to be the theme in the fourth set as Troy Wiebe and Graham would get in on the action.  The net domination would be too much for Laval and the Huskies would claim the set 25-14.

Player of the match: Vincente Ignacio Parraguirre Villalobos
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times CENTRAL TIME)
 
Thursday, February 26
13:00 Quarter-final #1: No. 2 Dalhousie 3, No. 7 York 2 (25-23, 25-19, 25-27, 16-25, 15-13)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: No. 3 Alberta 3, No. 6 Waterloo 0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-22)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: No. 5 Trinity Western 3, No. 4 Laval 0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-19)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 1 McMaster 3, No. 8 Saskatchewan 0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-18)
 
Friday, February 27
13:00 Consolation #1: York 3, Waterloo 2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 23-25, 16-14)
15:00 Consolation #2: Saskatchewan 3, Laval 1 (19-25, 26-24, 25-15, 25-14)
18:00 Semifinal #1: Alberta vs. Dalhousie (www.CIS-SIC.tv)  
20:00 Semifinal #2: Trinity Western vs. McMaster (www.CIS-SIC.tv)   
 
Saturday, February 28
14:00 5th place: York vs. Saskatchewan (www.CIS-SIC.tv)  
16:00 Bronze medal (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
19:00 Championship final (www.CIS-SIC.tv)