CALGARY – In Regina this weekend to face off against the Cougars, the University of Calgary Dinos men's volleyball team will look to bounce back after an unexpected weekend split, while the women lock up in a pivotal clash with playoff implications.

The men's squad, who went into last weekend tied for first in Canada West with the Alberta Golden Bears and ranked second in the country, dropped a marathon match to a motivated UBC Thunderbirds squad on Friday evening (21-25, 25-13, 25-19, 19-25, 14-16), who were previously unranked and second last in the conference standings.

A nice rebound effort on Saturday salvaged the weekend split for the Dinos, but dropped them to fourth in the CIS weekly power poll and to second in the conference. Only one match back of Alberta in the standings, Calgary does own two games in hand on the Bears, who travel to the tough home-floor of No. 9 Brandon this weekend.

Calgary is faced with two games against a Cougars team that has yet to record a victory in 2009-10 and is 4-62 since the beginning of the 2006-07 season. The struggling Regina squad ranks last in most team statistical categories in Canada West, and will be motivated to get on the board before the season completes itself.

With the tough wake-up call against the T-Birds still ringing loud in the ears of the Dinos, Calgary has learned that they can take no team for granted in competitive Canada West as they push for first place in the conference.

Calgary is led by their fifth year middle player Oleg Podporin, who has remained the most consistent threat for a Dinos squad that has dealt with key injuries throughout the season. Podporin is second in conference in service aces as well as blocks, and ranks third with a hitting percentage of .440.

Curtis James leads Calgary in total kills and total points with 114 and 132.5 respectively in only his second year with the team, while fourth year middle hitter David Egan has been very solid in the midst of increased court time.

Regina is led by fifth year outside hitter Mathew Brooks, who ranks first on his team in kills and total points, and their rookie setters Derek Delavau and Caleb Eschbach, who in fairly equal time on the floor have amassed 147 and 154 assists respectively.

The Dinos women have had their share of struggles thus far in 2009-10, going 6-8 after winning silver at last year's CIS Championships. The Dinos six victories have come against three teams lower than them in the standings, while all eight of their losses have been to teams higher than them.

With a weekend set against fourth-place Regina (9-5), the No. 9-ranked Dinos will have their latest shot at a team they're battling with in the standings. Currently, Calgary holds down the seventh and final playoff spot in Canada West with just a half-game lead over the Winnipeg Wesmen – the team the Dinos will face to close out the season.

The Dinos faced the Cougars twice in the pre-season, with both games coming at the Regina Invitational tournament. The home side came out on top of a five-set marathon in the round robin, winning 20-18 in the fifth set, while Calgary turned the tables with a comfortable 3-0 win in the tournament final Sept. 27. The teams split their two matches last season, also in Regina, with both sides winning 3-2.

Fifth-year senior Beth Clark leads the way for the Cougars, sitting second in the conference in hitting percentage and fourth in total kills. She also figures in the conference leaders in aces (eighth) and blocks (fifth).

The Calgary seniors, meanwhile, will be key down the stretch if the Dinos hope to keep playoff hopes alive. Middles Laura Littlejohn and Laura Spence along with power hitter Raynell Lavertu are in the twilight of their careers, with just six regular season games left to play.

The Dinos will host the Brandon Bobcats next weekend before heading to Winnipeg for a season-ending double bill against the Wesmen Feb. 12-13.

-UC-