CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos opened the 2008 Husky Dino Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Brandon Bobcats Thursday night in the Jack Simpson Gym (25-21. 24-26, 25-17, 25-21).
Spurred on by a 17-kill performance from fourth year left side Andrew Tallas along with 13 from returning Canada West second team all-star Omar Langford, the Dinos committed just 11 errors in the final three sets en route to the win.
“We just came out and played really well,” said third year Calgary head coach Rod Durrant. “The guys were really focused and really excited to play in the Dino Cup and they showed it. A couple of the senior guys stepped up and passed the ball really well, and as a team we played really solid throughout all four sets.
“They're a good team, and we're still learning, still growing. Tomorrow's a different day with UBC and UCLA, and we're looking forward to taking another step tomorrow.”
As impressive as Tallas' numbers were (17-for-29 with three errors, 48.3 per cent), the middle duo of Graham Vigrass and Oleg Podporin caused the Bobcats problems all night. Podporin scored 11 kills on 12 attempts with a single error, while Vigrass was 6-for-9 with a lone error.
Following a 25-21 win and a tight 26-24 loss, the Dinos came out firing on all cylinders in the pivotal third set, and two aces by Langford opened up a 7-3 lead. Calgary extended the lead to 16-8 at the second technical break on Tallas' 10th kill of the night, and a quick attack by Podporin gave the Dinos the set 25-17, the most lopsided score of the match.
After playing from behind early in the fourth, Calgary was able to tie the score at 11-11 and slowly began opening up breathing room on the scoreboard. A Brandon attack error gave the home side a four-point lead at 20-16, and the margin would never get closer. Tallas finished the match with his 17th kill.
Chris Hoag joined Tallas, Langford, and Podporin in double digit kill stats for Calgary with 10, while Paul Sanderson (14), Kevin Miller (12), and Joel Small (12) paced the Bobcats offence.
Calgary won the battle at the serving line, scoring eight aces – five of them from Langford – against 14 errors, while Brandon managed just two aces to go with 15 service errors.
The win moves Calgary to 1-0 at the 2008 Husky Dino Cup and 7-2 on the season, with one of their two losses coming against these same Bobcats at the Regina tournament last weekend. Brandon falls to 0-1.
Both teams will play UBC and UCLA Friday in Day 2 action. Brandon opens the day against the legendary Al Scates and the Bruins before an evening tilt with the Thunderbirds, while the Dinos take on UBC early in the afternoon with a nightcap against UCLA.
-UC-
2008 Husky Dino Cup – Tournament Schedule
All games in the Jack Simpson Gym
Thursday, Oct. 16
6 p.m. Calgary (w) def. Trinity Western 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 28-26)
8 p.m. Calgary (m) def. Brandon 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-17, 25-21)
Friday, Oct. 17
11 a.m. UCLA vs. Brandon
1 p.m. Calgary (m) vs. UBC
6:30 p.m. UBC vs. Brandon
8 p.m. Calgary (m) vs. UCLA
Saturday, Oct. 18
11 a.m. UBC vs. UCLA
4 p.m. Men's bronze medal match
6 p.m. Calgary (w) vs. Trinity Western
8 p.m. Men's gold medal match
Standings (Men's Draw)
1. Calgary (1-0)
2. UBC (0-0)
2. UCLA (0-0)
4. Brandon (0-1)
