WINNIPEG - The Calgary Dinos completed a two match sweep of the Winnipeg Wesmen with a 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-16, 25-16) Saturday evening at the Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg and, thanks to some help from the Trinity Western Spartans, suddenly find themselves with a shot at first place in Canada West.
BOX SCORE
The Dinos' win improves them to 11-3 on the season with six matches remaining. And, after the Spartans upset the Alberta Pandas for the second straight night, the Dinos now sit two points back of Alberta with a pair of matches in hand. If Calgary wins out the season, they will finish atop the standings and host the Canada West Final Four.
"I'm really looking forward to going from here," said first-year Calgary head coach Jesse Knight. "It's in our hands now, and we have a real opportunity."
The Dinos close the season with a trip to Brandon next weekend followed by back-to-back weekends at home, where they will take on Thompson Rivers and Simon Fraser.
Calgary started Saturday's match where they left off in Friday's straight-sets win, dominating the opening set. The Dinos led 8-4 at the first technical timeout and increased their lead to 16-8 at the second break of the opening set. Calgary pushed their lead to 18-11 and reeled off five straight points to expand their lead to double-digits at 22-11. Calgary would go on to win the opening set 25-13.
In the second set Calgary looked to have the set in control leading 8-6 and 16-11 at the technical breaks. The Dinos expanded their lead to seven at 21-14 when a determined Wesmen team showed true grit going on an impressive 11-2 run to win the second set 25-23 and even the match at one set each.
The Wesmen were not able to carry the momentum into the third set. Calgary raced out to an 8-3 lead the first technical and continued to lead holding a 16-10 at the second break. The Dinos would outscore the Wesmen 9-6 down the stretch to win the third set 25-16.
The fourth and final set was a carbon copy of the previous set. Calgary led at both technical timeouts by scores of 8-3 and 16-10. Calgary would go on to win the fourth and final set by a score of 25-16.
"Sarah Lacny really led us tonight," said Knight of his sophomore setter. "Offensively we were at another level this weekend, and everybody stepped up the offence because of how Sarah led us. We also got a realy strong contribution from our bench tonight."
Holly Harper led the Dinos with a match-high 17 kills. Fifth year left side Lauren Perry had a strong match with 13 kills, 14 defensive digs, two service aces and two blocks. Laura Wilson had 11 kills and 15 defensive digs.
The Wesmen were led by fourth year left side Marlee Bragg's 12 kills. First year sensation Ariel Smith finished with nine kills, 10 defensive digs, two service aces and three blocks. Second year middle Lauren Sears finished the match with seven kills. First year libero Tessa Peterson had a match high 16 defensive digs.
The victory improves Calgary's record to 11-3 on the season. Winnipeg's record sits at 1-13. Winnipeg will travel to Edmonton next weekend to take on the Alberta Pandas. Calgary will travel to Brandon to take on the Bobcats for two matches.
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