CALGARY – The defending national champion University of Calgary Dinos avenged their non-conference loss last week in Edmonton, defeating the top-ranked Alberta Golden Bears 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 18-25, 25-21) Thursday night to open the 2010 Husky Dino Cup.
BOX SCORE
The tournament, which also features the University of Saskatchewan and Brigham Young University, runs through Saturday in the Jack Simpson Gym. In the women's match earlier Thursday, the Alberta Pandas got past the host Dinos in straight sets (25-21, 25-18, 25-17).
The Dinos men rode an 11-kill performance from Chris Hoag and a sparkling defensive effort from libero Blake Giles to upend the Bears, who had bested Calgary 3-1 at the Can-Am Challenge last week. After the tight 25-23 win in the opening set, Calgary played solid, consistent volleyball in the second to win comfortably 25-17. Alberta's block was the story in the third as the Bears took a 25-18 win, setting up an entertaining fourth set where the teams went back and forth before the Dinos pulled ahead late.
“Our guys recognize that every time they have an opportunity to play against a quality team like the U of A, they have to bring their best game,” said fifth-year head coach Rod Durrant. “Tonight we played steady and we had very good focus. The fourth set was just good volleyball, and our double sub at 19-all made the difference.”
Transfer Levi Nutma was one of those subs, coming in late in the match and recording a block along with consecutive kills to set up match point for the Dinos.
Senior right side Spencer Leiske paced Alberta with 14 kills, while Jay Olmstead added 11.
Calgary's next action comes Friday afternoon when they take on the Saskatchewan Huskies at 1 p.m. before facing BYU at 7 p.m. Alberta will also play twice Friday, battling BYU at 11 a.m. and Saskatchewan at 5:30 p.m.
In the women's match, the Alberta Pandas overcame a 16-6 deficit in the first set to take a 25-21 win en route to their straight-sets victory.
BOX SCORE
Tiffany Proudfoot's 10 kills led the way for the Pandas, with Krista Zubick chipping in with eight. The Dinos struggled to pass all night and were out-blocked 8-1 by their rivals.
Nine kills from Maura Hayes led the Dinos, while Melanie Miazga added five.
The Dinos and Pandas will meet once more at the 2010 Husky Dino Cup, just before the men's final on Saturday at 5 p.m.
2010 Husky Dino Cup
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Thursday, October 21
6 p.m. Women: Alberta 3 Calgary 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-17)
8 p.m. Men: Calgary 3 Alberta 1 (25-23, 25-17, 18-25, 25-21)
Friday, October 22
11 a.m. Men: Alberta vs. Brigham Young
1 p.m. Men: Calgary vs. Saskatchewan
5:30 p.m. Men: Saskatchewan vs. Alberta
7 p.m. Men: Calgary vs. Brigham Young
Saturday, October 23
11 am Men: Brigham Young vs. Saskatchewan
3 p.m. Men: Bronze Medal Match
5 p.m. Women: Calgary vs. Alberta
7 p.m. Men: Gold Medal Match
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