CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos were poised to make their first trip to the CIS championship since 2003 as the Winnipeg Wesmen rolled in for a conference quarterfinal series last February.

The No. 3 team in the nation, the second seed in Canada West after a 13-5 regular season, and just three weeks removed from a sweep of the Wesmen in the same Jack Simpson Gym, the Dinos seemed destined for back-to-back weekends in Edmonton…except it didn't happen.

After a classic series that featured three marathon five-set matches, the Wesmen moved on and the Dinos headed into the off-season with some additional motivation to get ready for 2009-10.

“We did learn a lot last year,” said fourth-year Dinos head coach Rod Durrant, whose charges were ranked No. 4 in the inaugural Top 10 of the new season. “We had a relatively young group last year, but that's over with and our approach to this season has been positive. Our guys worked really hard in the off-season.”

Durrant didn't make wholesale changes over the summer with the core group of the team remaining intact, led by All-Canadian Omar Langford and conference all-star Ciaran McGovern. One key addition, however, is junior national team setter Jay Blankenau from Mount Royal, who gives added depth at the quarterback position.

“Bringing in Jay gives us another option, and both he and Ciaran spent the summer with the junior national team so that's a nice option to have,” said Durrant. “They're both competitive guys, and I believe that's going to make us better.”

There might be a little added motivation for the Dinos in 2009-10, with no fewer than six players on the roster entering their fifth year of eligibility. Langford joins middle Oleg Podporin, power hitters Don MacNeill and Pierre Rocque, and liberos Tom Porta and Brendan Ray as players with just one more shot in their university careers.

“I think there's definitely some extra motivation for those guys,” said Durrant. “You don't want them to put too much extra pressure on themselves because they need to enjoy their fifth year, but there also needs to be that sense of urgency and drive and that could be beneficial to us.”

Calgary's strength runs right up the middle, led by Podporin, Graham Vigrass, and David Egan. Vigrass also spent the summer with the junior national team, while Egan played for Team Alberta at the Canada Games in August and had a spectacular pre-season for the Dinos, including an MVP nod at the Husky Dino Cup after the Dinos defeated UCLA for the tournament title.

On the left side, CIS all-rookie teamer Chris Hoag joins MacNeill and Curtis James as the top power hitters with the squad.

“We're really pleased with the 16 guys that we have training, including a good group of young guys that really want to get better,” Durrant said. “But there's still lots of volleyball to be played in the toughest conference in the country and we have to take things one match at a time. We can't hope to get to the playoffs in one weekend.”

The Dinos face a stiff test to begin the regular season, visiting the two-time defending national champion Alberta Golden Bears Friday and Saturday nights at the Main Gym in Edmonton.

-UC-