CALGARY – The fourth ranked University of Calgary Dinos defeated the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 3-1 in Canada West women's volleyball action Friday evening in Calgary. The Dinos, defending CIS bronze medalists, won the match 25-18, 25-16, 21-15 and 25-11.

BOX SCORE

The match was opening debut for both clubs in Canada West and the first conference match for Calgary head coach Jesse Knight, succeeding Kevin Boyles who had coached the Dinos for the past nine seasons.

Senior Holly Harper (Lumsden, Sask.) paced Calgary with 18 kills and seven digs while Shannon Usher (Moose Jaw, Sask.) was solid for Saskatchewan with 12 kills, 14 digs, and a service ace.

Calgary had an impressive 29% kill efficiency as compared to 7% for the Huskies in the match.

Saskatchewan stormed out to quick 4-0 lead in the opening set but Calgary went on an 8-3 run taking an 8-7 margin at the first technical break.

Calgary stretched their margin to 16-11 at the second technical break. The Dinos did not let up taking control of the set at 20-11. Calgary closed out the set winning 25-18 as Harper led the way with four kills in the opening set.

The second set saw Calgary jump out to an 8-3 margin at the technical break.

Saskatchewan cut the margin in set two to 13-10 only to have Calgary regroup and maintain their five point margin at the second technical break to lead 16-11. Calgary extended their margin to 20-12 before closing out the set 25-16.

The Huskies led 8-7 at the first technical break in the third set. Saskatchewan stretched their margin to 12-9 forcing Calgary in a timeout. The Huskies kept the momentum leading 16-11 at the second technical break.

Saskatchewan led 20-16 and did not allow Calgary to gain any momentum closing out the set winning 25-21.

Calgary regrouped in the fourth set moving out leads of 8-3 and 16-8 before easily winning the set 25-11 and the match three sets to one.

“I was very pleased with the play of all of our seniors. We played very well and showed fight,” said Knight. “Saskatchewan served very tough in the third set and we were able to bounce back and adjust very well in the fourth set.”

The same two clubs meet Saturday at 6 p.m. in the second match of their weekend series in the Jack Simpson Gymnasium.

-UC-