CALGARY - An early-season perusal of the 2008-09 Canada West volleyball schedule would have led most observers to circle the weekend of Jan. 30-31 on the Calgary Dinos' calendar as a key match-up – at least for the men.
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack is a team that took a meteoric rise in CIS volleyball, taking home the national bronze medal last season – just their third year of competition at the highest level. Couple that with Calgary, a traditional power in men's volleyball that has suffered some lean years before returning to prominence over the last couple, and you had the makings of an important weekend on the schedule.
The WolfPack and Dinos have certainly not disappointed this year, and this weekend's series in the Jack Simpson Gym will seal the fate of both teams in terms of playoff positioning. It's the last series of the year for both sides, who will each enjoy a final week bye before the playoffs open Feb. 13. Both have already clinched playoff spots, but both want to ensure that when the post-season does roll around, they will be playing in the friendly confines of their respective home gyms.
For the 11-5 Dinos, the task is simple: win one game, and Calgary is guaranteed a home playoff date for the first time since 2002. Win both, and the Dinos lock up second place in the conference, hosting the seventh-ranked team in the playoff quarterfinal.
It gets a little more complex for the WolfPack, which sits one game back of the Dinos at 10-6. A split would virtually lock up a home playoff spot for them as well, but a sweep at the hands of the Dinos could send them on the road in the opening round. Three other teams – Brandon, UBC, and Trinity Western – also have six losses heading into this weekend, and all three have two matches in hand over Thompson Rivers.
So, just like the last time the Dinos and WolfPack met in the Jack to end the season, there is much on the line – but unlike February 2007, when the series winner got the final playoff spot in Canada West as its prize, home court advantage and the possibility of an easier road to the CIS Championship in Edmonton is up for grabs.
The Dinos and 'Pack have thrice met so far this season, all over the same weekend in pre-season competition in the B.C. Interior. Calgary took all three matches Sept. 26-28 (3-0, 3-0, 3-1), but there has been much volleyball played since then and the WolfPack is on a roll to end the season.
After opening with a 3-5 start, TRU has lost just one of its last eight conference matches, earning a key split on the road at Trinity Western last weekend. Also included in that streak was a sweep of Brandon – the team that in turn swept the Dinos last weekend, ending Calgary's six-match conference winning streak.
The Dinos put a perfect 8-0 home record in conference play on the line this weekend, and extending that streak to 10-0 would give Calgary its first 13-win season since 2001.
Statistically, the teams are in a virtual dead heat in most team categories. Calgary middles Oleg Podporin and Graham Vigrass are in the top 10 in hitting percentage in the conference, but as a team the WolfPack has a slightly better percentage than do the Dinos. Individually, TRU outside hitter Gord Perrin is fourth in Canada West with 4.11 kills per set, ever so slightly ahead of the Dinos' Omar Langford (4.09). Monaco import Robin Schoebel is the 'Pack's other big offensive threat, averaging just over three and a half kills per set.
It's the third straight season the Dinos and WolfPack have ended their seasons against each other, and both previous series have ended with each side salvaging one win. Their only other series in 2006 also ended in a split, so when No. 5 Calgary and No. 6 Thompson Rivers do battle again to end 2008-09, a split could once again be in the cards.
On the women's side, the Dinos and WolfPack are on opposite ends of the playoff picture and both have aspirations of moving higher, despite the odds stacked against them.
After a tough split at Brandon last weekend put in jeopardy the Dinos' shot at first place in Canada West, it's still a possibility – though they need some help to accomplish the feat. At 12-4, Calgary is tied in the loss column with Alberta (14-4) and two matches in hand, to be played next weekend against lowly Simon Fraser. If the teams finish tied at the end of the season, Alberta will take first place and host the conference Final Four because of their superior head-to-head sets won-lost.
To finish first, then, the Dinos need to win out and have Alberta drop at least one of their final two matches this weekend in Regina. While that is certainly a possibility, of more immediate concern to Calgary is a milestone that is completely within its control – locking up home-court advantage – an four wins in the last four matches would guarantee the Dinos finish no worse than second.
While the fourth-ranked Dinos are 6-0 all-time in conference play against Thompson Rivers, losing just one set in those six matches, taking the WolfPack too lightly would be disastrous. At 5-11, TRU sits in eighth spot in Canada West, one position out of the playoffs. They still have a shot, albeit a long one, of making the playoffs, but they would need to sweep Calgary this weekend and then sweep Regina next weekend to overtake the Cougars for the seventh and final playoff position.
The 'Pack has been playing some very good ball of late, taking No. 2 Trinity Western to five sets last Saturday night and splitting a pair of 3-2 decisions against Brandon two weeks ago. They received votes in the CIS Top 10 poll for the first time ever this week and, while the Dinos would likely be considered heavy favourites this weekend, TRU will certainly not be a pushover for Calgary.
The Dinos lead the WolfPack in every team and individual statistical category, and taking advantage of TRU's league-worst blocking will be a key to Calgary's success this weekend. So will a solid passing game – the Dinos struggled defensively against Brandon in last Saturday's 3-0 loss, contributing mightily to the disappointing result.
Anna Dyakiewicz is the WolfPack's top offensive player, averaging 2.89 kills per set, while the Dinos' Holly Harper continues to roll with 3.69 per set – second-best in Canada West. Fifth-year libero Laura Plouffe is the only other TRU player to crack the statistical top 10 in any category (6th in digs with 3.31 per set).
First serve goes 6 p.m. for the women and 8 p.m. for the men Friday and Saturday nights in the Jack Simpson Gym.
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