CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos were faced with a much peskier Regina Cougars team on Saturday night, but still managed a straight-set victory (25-18, 25-19, 27-25) and solidified an unbeaten fall record at 8-0 in the process.
Calgary lost only four sets in their first eight matches of 2010-11, with all eight of their victories coming against the bottom four teams in Canada West. Their winter semester will feature the exact opposite, with the second to sixth place teams all on the docket for the Dinos.
Perhaps unexpectedly for some, Calgary had a tough time with the Cougars (1-7) on Saturday, who seemed completely unperturbed with Friday's 3-0 loss, coming out with an energy they didn't have the night before.
Most notably, Regina was much better at defending the net on Saturday, where Joel Colter and Jamie Wilkins combined for ten blocks against the Dinos. Calgary's defence, which was one of the key factors in Friday's victory, was at it once again as well, as the team combined for 34 digs.
After taking the first two sets with solid offensive numbers, Calgary fell off in that respect in the third set, managing only a 5.7% conversion rate on their attacks. Without their typical power volleyball clicking, it gave the Cougars the hope they needed as they attempted to take the set from the no.4 ranked team in the country.
Feeding off of four straight Dinos attack errors, the Cougars forced the Calgary crowd to pay attention, going up on the Dinos for the first time all weekend at 13-11. While Calgary had their chances to get the separation they had become accustomed to, unforced errors and inspired Regina play kept the game tight all the way into the twenties, where the Cougars refused to go away.
Calgary showed why they are the defending CIS National Champions however, simply refusing to give the Cougars the game. Allen Meek was at it again in the late stages after a solid Friday outing, placing a beautiful tip into open space to tie it up at 24, and then dramatically stuffing Wilkins' kill attempt on the line to win the game at 27-25.
Meek finished with eight kills and seven digs, while Graham Vigrass led the Dinos with 10 kills. Pat Lenaour made a difference in his reserve role as well, converting two kills in the third set as well as three total blocks.
Ciaran McGovern and Jay Blankenau shared time at the setters position, each combining for 33 assists, while Blake Giles led the team in digs with nine.
Wilkins and Brody Waddell paced the Cougars with 11 kills apiece, and accounted for almost two thirds of the team's total attacking output. Lindsey Izaak led Regina with eight digs.
Dinos head coach Rod Durrant credited his team for answering the bell in the face of added pressure.
“That was a good test for us tonight,” said Durrant, in his fifth year with the Dinos. “Regina came out strong, and I think we played hard and answered them pretty well.
“It was a good win for us, and now the guys can take their much-deserved break before the winter semester gets going,” Durrant concluded.
Both Calgary and Regina will now wait until the New Year to resume conference play. Regina opens on the road against the Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton, while Calgary will stay at home, hosting the UBC Thunderbirds. All winter semester conference games open on Friday, January 14th.
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