CALGARY – The UCLA Bruins are Husky Dino Cup champions once again.

Led by 47-year head coach Al Scates, the Bruins rode a 19-kill performance by 6-foot-9 left side hitter and tournament MVP Sean O'Malley to a 3-1 win (25-19, 20-25, 32-30, 25-23) over the host University of Calgary Dinos in the gold medal match Saturday night in the Jack Simpson Gym. It was the first loss of the tournament for the Dinos, who cruised to a 3-0 record through the round robin.

After the teams traded the first two sets, the Bruins took a hard-fought third set by a 32-30 score, a set both teams had several opportunities to end as the score continued to climb. Service errors plagued both sides late in the set, and a solid kill from O'Malley ended it in UCLA's favour. He was again the story in the fourth, scoring eight kills and finishing the night with a 42 per cent hitting average.

“We had four really good matches this weekend and to play the way we did tonight, we're really pleased,” said Calgary head coach Rod Durrant. “We have been getting better, and this will motivate us even more. And we played a good team, so give them credit.  The third set we shot ourselves in the foot with three chances and three missed serves, but you learn from that. We're young and it's better to have that happen in exhibition.

“It was a great event for this young group, and now we have to get ready for Saskatchewan next weekend.”

Allen Meek, who transferred to the University of Calgary from the CCAA national champion Mount Royal Cougars this season, had a fantastic outing in a losing cause, pounding 11 kills in the third set alone en route to a 20-kill performance on the night. Setter Ciaran McGovern was also solid for Calgary, earning a spot on the tournament all-star team.

Earlier Saturday, the UBC Thunderbirds defeated the Brandon Bobcats for the bronze medal with a hard-fought 3-1 victory, while the Trinity Western University Spartans women made history with their first-ever win over the Dinos in the Jack Simpson Gym by a 3-1 score (20-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20). The Dinos and Spartans split their weekend exhibition series, with Calgary taking the first match 3-0 on Thursday night.

“The big difference for Trinity Western was Dayna (Jansen Van Doorn),” said Calgary coach Jesse Knight. “She played the whole match and we couldn't adjust.

“Even in that first set we didn't play all that fantastic. They got better as the match went on, and we didn't.”

Conference play for the Dinos begins next weekend as the University of Saskatchewan Huskies pay a visit to the Jack, with women's games at 6 p.m. and the men following at 8 p.m.

-UC-

2008 Husky Dino Cup – Tournament Schedule

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 def. Brandon 3-2 (16-25, 20-25, 25-21, 27-25, 18-16)
1 p.m.                   Calgary (m) def. UBC 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17)

6:30 p.m.             Brandon def. UBC 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-21)
8 p.m.                   Calgary (m) def. UCLA 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-19)

Saturday, Oct. 18
11 a.m.                 UCLA def. UBC 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-12)
4 p.m.                   Men's bronze medal match: UBC def. Brandon 3-1 (24-26, 25-23, 25-23, 31-29)
6 p.m.                   Trinity Western def. Calgary (w) 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20)
8 p.m.                   Men's gold medal match: UCLA def. Calgary 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 32-30, 25-23)

Final Standings (Men's Draw)
1. UCLA (3-1)
2. Calgary (3-1)
3. UBC (1-3)
4. Brandon (2-2)