Win streak hits nine as Men's Volleyball Huskies sweep Wolves in Fort McMurray

The Keyano Huskies Men’s Volleyball team continued an impressive run with their eighth and ninth-straight wins over the weekend, doing so at home against the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves.  
 
“I was happy with the whole weekend except for obviously this third set today,” Head Coach Keegan Kuhr said. “We just lost focus, took things too lightly; it got a little ugly there at the end. I’m happy that we were able to pull it out.”  

Saturday’s clinching third set was the lone hiccup of the weekend with the Wolves clawing back to force a tight 29-27 set win by the Huskies. The pair of straight-sets victories marked the Huskies’ seventh straight win by that route.  

During the nine-game run, they’ve dropped just a single set. 

“We lacked on our energy piece a little bit on the last set,” Preston Yole admitted. “We dropped down to their level and played their game, which we can’t let happen come playoffs because it’ll hurt us.   

“I think we’ve just go to stay focused and keep our energy high.”  
 
Friday’s win was led by an eight-kill performance by João Cunha and season-high seven blocks by Athus Silva. Yole was sharp on the defensive side of the ball with five blocks himself while Brody Kopec and Rafael Parada each had five kills in the win.  
 
“I thought Preston took his game to another level with his blocking and his serving,” Kuhr said of the older Yole. “Even his defence, I was really happy to see him play two really good games.  

“He could’ve been our Player of the Game for both games.”   

Saturday, it was the younger Yole, Mike, who stepped up for the Huskies, coming in at a critical point late in the first set to serve up a few key aces that closed things out. Kuhr emphasized how proud he was of not just Mike, but the team’s depth for their contributions.  
 
“Our depth is something that we’ve been preaching all year to these guys,” he said. “Obviously Mikey hasn’t been a starter for us, but he’s always ready, a true pro that keeps himself ready.  
 
“We’re just deep; we’ve got guys ready. We’re going to need that as we head into these last six games.”  

Saturday’s 3-0 win featured 11 kills from Brody Kopec while the trio of Cunha, Silva, and Parada totaled 18 kills between them. Noah Gagné rounded out his weekend with 24 assists to give him 45 on the weekend.   

An 11-6 advantage on service aces and 10-3 block advantage also helped the Huskies’ efforts.  

The Huskies take to the road for a matchup in Lloydminster, Alta. against the Lakeland College Rustlers this coming week as the top two teams in the ACAC’s North Division meet.