CALGARY - The 22nd edition of the Husky Dino Cup returns to its traditional format, with a four-team men's round robin tournament with gold and bronze matches coupled with a two-game women's exhibition series.
Joining the host Dinos in 2008 are Canada West rivals UBC and Brandon along with the UCLA Bruins, led once again by legendary coach Al Scates.
Scates' coaching record is as astounding as his longevity. This season marks his 47th year at the helm of the Bruins, winning 19 NCAA championships and never posting a single sub-.500 season – an NCAA record in any sport. His career record is 1171-237 (.831).
UCLA returns much of its 2008 team which went 17-14 before losing to Pepperdine in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation quarterfinal. The key loss is All-America libero Tony Ker, who became the school's all-time digs leader.
Junior Garrett Muagututia was a second team All-MPSF honouree in 2008 and leads a potent UCLA offence that also includes seniors Sean O'Malley and D.J. Sromath, both of whom were honourable mention All-MPSF players last season.
Always popular attendees at the Husky Dino Cup, the Bruins are four-time champions of the event (1992, 1997, 2001, 2004) and will play the Dinos in the tournament feature match on Friday.
The host Dinos have won the Husky Dino Cup seven times in the tournament's history, and the rebuilding of the program seems to be right on schedule. Coach Rod Durrant added championship experience to his roster with six additions, including three from the college national champion Mount Royal Cougars, and the Dinos will take to the court in 2008-09 with just one player in his first year of eligibility.
Chris Hoag, however, can hardly be called a rookie. The son of national team head coach Glenn Hoag, he was a CCAA All-Canadian last year at Cégep de Sherbrooke and is a dynamic left side hitter. Fellow All-Canadian Allen Meek (right side) leads the trio of Mount Royal players who made the trip north on Crowchild Trail to join the Dinos.
The new additions join an always-improving group of young players led by sophomores Ciaran McGovern (setter) and Graham Vigrass (middle). Both played for the junior national team over the summer, leading Canada to a silver medal at the NORCECA championships in El Salvador. McGovern was named to the CIS all-rookie team in 2008.
The Brandon Bobcats make their first-ever appearance at the Husky Dino Cup and are one of the up-and-coming teams in CIS volleyball under head coach Russ Paddock.
Paddock, however, may not make the trip to Calgary this weekend due to job action by the Faculty Association at Brandon University, where classes remain cancelled.
Brandon finished with a 10-8 record in 2007-08, earning a host spot in the first round of the playoffs where they were defeated by eventual CIS bronze medalist Thompson Rivers 2-0.
Brandon is led by flashy outside hitter Paul Sanderson, a native of Melbourne, Australia who was a first team conference all-star last season after leading the league in kills. Middle Joel Small, a second team Canada West all-star, returns for the Bobcats as well.
The UBC Thunderbirds are defending CIS consolation champions after finishing third in CW last season with a 13-5 record. Setter Jared Krause, a second team conference all-star, and former Dino Steve Gotch are the two fifth-year seniors on the team, with Gotch finishing fifth in the conference kill standings last season.
The women's side of the draw pits the new-look Dinos under head coach Jesse Knight against the Trinity Western Spartans, the surprise of the pre-season with an unblemished record. Knight makes his home coaching debut in Thursday night's tilt, taking over in the off-season from now-Athletic Director Kevin Boyles, who coached the team for nine seasons.
National teamers Julie Young and Laura Wilson are back to lead the Dinos offensively, with Young joined by Lauren Perry and Holly Harper for their fifth and final seasons as Dinos. Middles Laura Littlejohn, Ali Sandholm, and Kelly Frittenburg have been impressive so far in the pre-season, while the setting tandem of CIS all-rookie team member Sarah Lacny and junior Kathryn Moncks is solid as well.
The Spartans have looked impressive in non-conference play, winning the West Coast Classic tournament at UBC with a key victory over the defending national champion Thunderbirds. Middle Dayna Jansen Van Doorn, a member of the national team, leads a Spartans team that has traditionally struggled in the Jack.
The conference season opens next weekend when the Saskatchewan Huskies pay a visit to the Dinos Oct. 24-25.
-UC-
2008 HUSKY DINO CUP
Tournament Schedule
All games in the Jack Simpson Gym
Thursday, Oct. 16
6 p.m. Dinos (w) vs. Trinity Western
8 p.m. Dinos (m) vs. Brandon
Friday, Oct. 17
11 a.m. UCLA vs. Brandon
1 p.m. Dinos (m) vs. UBC
6:30 p.m. UBC vs. Brandon
8 p.m. Dinos (m) vs. UCLA
Saturday, Oct. 18
11 a.m. UBC vs. UCLA
4 p.m. Men's Bronze Medal Match
6 p.m. Dinos (w) vs. Trinity Western
8 p.m. Men's Gold Medal Match
