SASKATOON, SK — The Brandon University Bobcats men's volleyball team will put its season on the line Friday night after dropping the opening match of the Canada West Play-In series to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Thursday.

The Huskies defended their home court at the PAC, taking Game 1 in straight sets (25-16, 25-19, 25-21) to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Despite the setback, the Bobcats showed steady improvement throughout the match and are poised to bring renewed energy to Friday's must-win contest.

Saskatchewan set a blistering pace in the opening frame, hitting .500 as a team to take the first set 25-16. The Huskies utilized a heavy service game throughout the night, racking up nine aces to keep the Bobcats out of system.

Brandon battled hard in the second set, keeping the exchanges tight early on before the Huskies pulled away for a 25-19 win. The Bobcats' resilience showed in the third and final set, fueled by a balanced effort across the roster.

Trailing late in the third frame, Brandon mounted a fierce push, narrowing the Saskatchewan lead to 23-21 and putting the home team on its heels. However, the Huskies managed to find two consecutive kills to fend off the comeback and secure the sweep. Liam Pauls led the offensive charge for Brandon, tallying a team-high eight kills, while Liam Kindle and Thomas Friesen provided reliable supporting fire with six kills each. Setter Kale Fisher anchored the offense with 16 assists, working hard to navigate the Huskies' service pressure. Defensively and at the service line, Riley Brunet made his presence felt, recording two blocks, three kills and an ace.

The Huskies were led by a 15-kill performance from Emmett Graham, who hit .440 for the match, alongside 13 kills and two aces from Isaiah Mamer. Mathieu Methot also contributed a match-high four blocks for the home team.

Do-or-Die Friday

The mission is clear for the Bobcats: win Friday and extend the season. Game 2 is scheduled for 6 p.m. back at the PAC in Saskatoon.