CALGARY – Calgary's attendance streak at the CIS women's volleyball championship came to an end at nine last year as the Dinos failed to advance through the first round of the playoffs.

That disappointing end to the season behind them, the Dinos are looking forward to building with a young team – and head coach Jesse Knight is optimistic he has the pieces in place.

“I'm really pleased with this group,” said Knight, who begins his third season as head coach. “We have some depth back, we're a year older and more experienced. I think this team can do whatever it decides it wants to do.”

The Dinos open the season Friday and Saturday nights against the Winnipeg Wesmen, with first serve at 6 p.m. each night in the Jack Simpson Gym. The matches will be broadcast live at www.goDINOS.com/dinovision.

Former national team player Laura Wilson is back after rehabbing from knee surgery last year, and Calgary will look to her to provide timely kills on the left side.

“Laura Wilson is huge for us, because she's our one piece of experience on the outside – the most important position in volleyball,” said Knight. “I can't understate how important just her presence, her understanding, and her leadership are, never mind her performance. It's big for us.”

Ali Sandholm and Mel Miazga anchor the Dinos in the middle, while Courtney Dawson out of the Dinos Volleyball Club is a highly-touted recruit – also in the middle.

Setter Jordhynn Guy is another solid recruit out of the Dinos club, and she will join veteran Sarah Lacny in distributing the ball around the floor. Brooke Halvorsen takes over at libero after transferring from Simon Fraser University, and the team will look to sophomore Newfoundlander and former junior national team member Maura Hayes to continue the fine form she showed in her rookie season.

The Dinos open against the Wesmen who, like the Dinos, could be one of those darkhorse teams in Canada West after vastly improving over last season.

“They're feisty, they have some good players, and they dig everything,” said Knight. “It's not going to be easy by any stretch. We're going to have to look at ourselves and find a way to get it done – that's what this weekend is about.

“Every day we get a little more healthy, and we're starting to get a core of players who are getting comfortable with each other. That's probably the most exciting part is coming together as a team. This team is hungry, and I think adversity has really paved the way for us and given us those experiences that will prepare us to have a good season.”

The CIS women's volleyball championship heads east in 2011 to Université Laval in Quebec City.

-UC-