Lions Fall Short Versus Huskies

              The 7-6 Ambrose Lions faced off against the 6-4 Keyano College Huskies at home on Saturday night. Both teams had lost their most recent matchup.

              Starting out the first set the Huskies seized control early and wouldn't let it go. #14 for the Huskies Athus Silva led all players with 4 kills in the set and matched the total output for the Lions, taking the set 25-16. Josh Nickel had a strong set for the Lions, but they struggled to serve consistently.

              The Lions started out stronger in the second set thanks to back-to-back kills by #17 Isaac Karstad. The Huskies responded as both teams played a back and forth came with neither team able to pull ahead. The Huskies called timeout down 18-20 after a run by the Lions thanks to #15 Nikita Marchenkov. Out of the time out the Huskie went on a run of their own to regain the lead 21-20. Down 21-23 the Lions used there second timeout to try and avoid falling into a 0-2 hole, but the Lions weren't able to pull it off falling 22-25.

              The Lions finally found their groove in the third set leading from start to finish. The Huskies were looking to get it close until an offensive flurry from Marchenkov and the Lions put them firmly up 21-13. The Huskies would get within four, but a kill from Isaac Karstad closed out the set 25-20.

              The Lions continued to roll in the fourth set despite coach Jose being shown a yellow card early in the period. #13 George Zapach had his strongest set yet for the Lions scoring a couple of kills early. Out of a timeout the Huskies struggled to string more than one score together and were forced to use their second timeout down 12-17. The Huskies would finally tie it up at 22-22 behind the play of Silva and #13 Joao Cunha, but after faulting on a serve Josh Nickel was up for Ambrose and he came through to give Ambrose the set win 25-22 and force a fifth set.  

              On the verge of being reverse swept the Huskies poured on the pressure early in the fifth set going ahead 7-2. The Lions responded bringing it as close as 8-10 but they couldn't quite get over the hump. The Huskies eventually closed it out 15-9 to get the win 3-2 and move to 7-4 on the season.

              Player of the game awards went to Huskies #18 Nikola Sreckovic and Lions #15 Nikita Marchenkov. Ambrose will have their work cut out for them next week as they try and bounce back against the 9-1 Red Deer Polytechnic Kings.