Back-to-back four set victories over the Saskatchewan Huskies helped the Trinity Western Spartans improve to 7-1 and maintain their second-place ranking in the national polls.
"I was really happy with the way we played," said coach Ben Josephson.
"We came out and we executed what we wanted to."
The Huskies are ranked seventh in the country and it was a battle for both victories.
The matches were played over the weekend at the Langley Events Centre.
Friday's match saw the Spartans win the first two sets — 27-25 and 25-22 — before Saskatchewan staved off elimination in set three 26-24. But the fourth set went 25-19 in favour of the hosts.
On Saturday, Trinity Western again won the first two sets 25-20 and 25-17 before Saskatchewan stayed alive with a 26-24 victory. But Trinity Western closed the match in the fourth set with a 25-18 win.
"I thought it was two very tired teams grinding it out," Josephson said.
"Thank goodness we slept in our own beds last night; that was probably the difference."
The coach also credited his middles for a great performance.
Nick Del Bianco led the with a dozen kills, five aces and a pair of blocks while Brad Kufske put up 12 kills, five blocks and nine digs. Lucas Van Berkel had seven kills, four aces and four blocks and Scott Plocktis put together his most impressive start of the season with 40 assists, six digs and a pair of blocks.
Friday's match saw Steven Marshall deliver 15 kills, 17 digs and three blocks while Tyler Koslowsky had 20 digs and seven assists.
The Spartans travel to Winnipeg to battle the Wesmen on Nov. 23 and 24.