SASKATOON - The Brandon University Bobcats staved off a University of Saskatchewan Huskies bid for a comeback to get 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20) win Saturday night at the PAC in Saskatoon.
 
Winning the first two sets quickly and efficiently – 25-17 and 25-19 – Brandon found itself in trouble in the third set.
 
Saskatchewan quickly built a 10-6 lead to open the third set. But Brandon was able to keep pace and tied the set at 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 points. A Zak Rempel kill and a Paul Thomson and Tyler Epp block gave the Huskies a 23-21 lead. Although the Bobcats took the ball back, they couldn't string together a point run to hold off the Huskies' 25-23 win.
 
The Bobcats opened the fourth set with a 4-1 lead before the Huskies stormed back to tie the set at six. The lead changed hands three times with neither team gaining more than a three point cushion. A big kill by Sebastien Steigmeier that the Huskies couldn't dig up, followed by service ace put Brandon up by four at 22-18. Rempel and Epp held off the Bobcats with a block, but on the next play a Saskatchewan service error gave the Bobcats the 25-20 win.
 
With the win, Brandon improves to 12-4 on the season. Saskatchewan drops to 9-7. With just eight matches left in the Canada West men's volleyball season, just six points separate second through sixth.
 
Steigmeier powered Brandon to the victory recording a match-high 21 kills and eight digs. Sam Tuivai added another 15 kills and 11 digs for the Bobcats.
 
Jordan Nowakowski led the Huskies recording a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs. Paul Thomson added another eight kills, while Matthew Busse tallied seven.
 
The Huskies travel to visit provincial rival the Regina Cougars next weekend, while the Bobcats return home to host the UBC Thunderbirds.