CALGARY – The Calgary Dinos moved one step closer to clinching a playoff spot Friday night, playing a controlled game and coming out on top of the Thompson Rivers WolfPack 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-16) without really breaking a sweat.

BOX SCORE

Calgary improves to 7-6 on the season and needs just one more victory or one loss by Winnipeg in the final five matches of the season to guarantee a spot in the post-season. Thompson Rivers, coming off a pair of victories last week over Saskatchewan, falls to 2-11 on the season.

The WolfPack dressed just eight players for the game and played with only one substitution available for the entire evening. The visitors were able to keep it close through the first part of the match, but the Dinos were simply too much for them at the end of the first set and cruised to the victory.

“I thought the difference was that first set, where we came out and really didn't defend at all until the latter part,” said third-year Dinos head coach Jesse Knight. “We took it to another gear around the 16-point time out, and Lindsey Doland was there for us offensively.”

Doland put up five of her nine kills in the opening set as Calgary broke it open late to take it 25-19. In the second, the Dinos held Thompson Rivers to single digits in points until very late, taking it comfortably 25-14. Calgary again led wire-to-wire in the third to sweep the match 25-16.

While the WolfPack was limited with its substitutions, Knight used his bench liberally – at times putting four rookies on the floor at the same time.

“We don't have a very deep bench, so everybody has a job – and it was good to get everyone some practice at their jobs in a game situation,” said Knight.

Lindsay Russell led all players with 12 kills on the night, followed by Doland's nine along with seven from Ali Sandholm. Libero Brooke Halvorsen was solid defensively, recording a match-high 10 digs as Calgary kept the WolfPack to just a 10 percent hitting efficiency.

On the other side, Kelly Asleson led the way with eight kills – a number mitigated by six attack errors. Anna Dyakiewicz chipped in with seven kills, while Katarina Osadchuk added five.

The Dinos and WolfPack do battle once more Saturday night to complete the weekend series.

-UC-