CALGARY – The first-ever regular season meetings between the University of Calgary Dinos and the Mount Royal University Cougars volleyball teams kick off the inaugural Crowchild Classic this weekend with – what else – a home-and-home series. It begins Friday night in the Jack Simpson Gym, with the return matches Saturday down at Mount Royal's Kenyon Court.

Men's action starts things off, with first serve Friday at 6 p.m., and the women following at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the men open at 5 p.m. followed by the women at 6:30.

They only play each other twice this season, and it'll be a good test for all four teams to open against their new crosstown rivals. And there are plenty of connections between the teams at both schools, adding to the unique situations facing both sides.

To wit: on the men's side, it's a family affair with 7-foot-1 brothers Ivan (Dinos) and Grigor (Cougars) Kartev lining up on opposite sides of the net in the middle. Three players on the Dinos roster – Will Young, Travis Banks, and Anton Louden – used to ply their trade on the southern campus before making the move up University Drive. And one of Mount Royal's assistant coaches, Jace Richards, played for both schools and wrapped up his CIS eligibility in a Dinos uniform just last year.

The women's side also features some interesting connections, with former Dinos men's players Rob Ellis and Brendan Ray coaching with the lady Cougars. And fifth-year Dinos outside hitter Andrea Price was a former ACAC player of the year and national champion with the Cougars, before elevating to CIS with the Dinos last season.

For both Dinos teams, the addition of the Cougars isn't the only change from a year ago. Both squads have undergone significant change in the off-season and are ready to enter yet another season of intense competition in Canada West.

The Dinos return home Nov. 10-11 for a pair of matinees against the Winnipeg Wesmen.

No. 8 Dinos Men's Volleyball
It's a whole new lineup for the Calgary Dinos men's volleyball side.

With significant turnover at most positions, the youth movement has begun for seventh-year head coach Rod Durrant as he builds toward the future, including the 2014 CIS championship tournament that the University of Calgary will host. Departed are former CIS MVP Graham Vigrass, national teamers Jay Blankenau and Chris Hoag, and six other players from last season's roster, but Durrant is pleased with his group's work ethic and eagerness to learn – despite their youth.

“There's lots of turnover, but it's an exciting group and they've worked hard, and we're excited about the attitude and the energy the guys have brought in,” said Durrant. “Now, it's a matter of putting it all together on the court to compete and sustain that for a best-of-five match. We've shown moments where we can compete with the best teams, and we've shown moments of a first-year, young team that has had some breakdowns.”

Down the middle, the Dinos return seven-footer Ivan Kartev along with Jovan Jankovic, with Greg Mann, Connor Frehlich, and Will Young kitting on the outside. Redshirt sophomore Cory Meeuwisse takes over at libero.

An interesting battle is shaping up at the setter's spot to replace Blankenau – last year's backup, Travis Banks, joins Red Deer College transfer Jackson Maris along with 6-foot-6 freshman Alex Cook in a competition for playing time at that position. Cook and Maris are among 12 newcomers on the Calgary roster for the 2012-13 season.

No. 10 Dinos Women's Volleyball
After a fifth-place finish in 2011-12, the Dinos are pegged to finish in that position again this year in Canada West women's volleyball – and with a veteran-laden lineup including four fifth-year starters, the Dinos will make a push to return to the CIS championship after a three-year absence.

The quartet of outside hitters Lindsey Doland, Sarah Moncks, and Andrea Price along with libero Brooke Halvorsen provide a steady, veteran presence for second-year head coach Natalie Schwartz, though an injury to Halvorsen will keep her out for the first half of the season.

“This is an interesting year for me,” said Schwartz, who starred as the Dinos' setter from 2001-06. “Our three key positions are fifth-years. They're experienced, and we expect them to carry the weight of the team. We're spending a lot of time building systems that will make them successful while putting pressure on them to perform. Having four starters in their fifth year puts us in a really good position.”

Stepping into the starting role at the pivotal setter spot is third-year Jordhynn Guy, who understudied with Sarah Lacny for two seasons and steps into the role vacated by Lacny's graduation. And in the middle, the graduation of Melanie Miazga gives Courtney Dawson an opportunity to shine – and Dawson has been dominant in the pre-season.

Freshman Morgan Dale of White Rock, B.C. takes over at libero with the veteran Halvorsen out, and Schwartz singled out the play of rookie Ali Woolley from Toronto as a positive during non-conference play.

-UC-