LANGLEY, B.C. – The Trinity Western men's volleyball team (13-5) will look to redeem themselves at home this weekend, having gone winless in their last three matches at the Langley Events Centre, as they take on the Calgary Dinos (6-12) Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games will be streamed live at canadawest.tv.
 
Last year, the Spartans travelled to Calgary in early-February for a two-game regular season series, defeating the Dinos 3-0 and 3-1.
 
The Spartans have dropped three consecutive five-set matches at the LEC, but hope to turn things around this weekend as they work towards hosting a Canada West quarter-final matchup. With three teams – Manitoba, Saskatchewan and UBC – all just one game behind the Spartans and still four matches remaining on TWU's schedule, this weekend's games will go a long ways to determining the Spartans playoff fate.
 
CALGARY DINOS (6-12)
CIS ranking: NR
Canada West position: Tied for 9th
Last Weekend: Thompson Rivers 3-0 W, 3-0W
Streak: 4 Win
2011-12 Canada West record: 11-9 (4th)
2012 playoffs: 2-3 (4th)
2012 CIS tournament: 2-1 (5th)
 
The Calgary Dinos arrive in Langley a much different team than the won they brought to the LEC last year. Fielding one of the youngest and newest rosters in Canada West, the Dinos will look to spoil the Spartans attempt at clinching home-court advantage for the playoffs while also keeping their own post-season aspirations alive.
 
Losing four of their key starters from last year, Dinos coach Rod Durrant has taken his team through a rebuilding season. Without a single senior athlete on the team, Durrant has looked to fourth-year Greg Mann (Brisbane, Australia) to lead his team on the court. Mann has been spectacular for the Dinos this year, leading the team with 3.18 kills per set and 3.68 points per set.
 
Despite their inexperience, the Dinos still find themselves in the hunt for the last playoff spot in the Canada West conference, only trailing by two wins, with four games left in regular season play.
 
Not only are they within striking distance of a post-season berth, but the Dinos are also currently playing their best volleyball of the season.  Since a pair of losses to unbeaten Alberta to start the spring semester – which included a five-set thriller in which Calgary had a 2-1 lead after three sets and, in the fifth set, had three chances to serve for match point – the Dinos have won four games in a row.
 
Calgary has been getting contributions from a variety of players this year. Setter, Jackson Maris (Red deer, Alta.) leads the team with 7.92 assists per set, as well as adding 1.97 digs per set. Offensively, it has been the recent success of freshman Sean Martin (Calgary) that has given the Dinos a chance at victory. Martin is averaging 2.71 kills per set, and 3.19 points per set.
 
Collectively, the Dinos are averaging 11.06 kills per set (10th in CW), and are ripping an impressive 1.25 service aces per set (tied for 3rd in CW). At the net, the Dinos are averaging 2.25 blocks per set (8th in CW), and are holding their opponent to a .245 hitting percentage (9th in CW).
 
The last time Calgary played at the LEC was Feb. 24, 2012, when the Spartans and Dinos faced off in the Canada West semi-final, which saw TWU­­­­ win in three straight sets.
 
TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (13-5)
CIS ranking: No. 5
Canada West position: 2nd
Last Weekend: Mount Royal 3-0 W, 3-1 W
Streak: 2 Wins
2011-12 Canada West record: 19-1 (1st)
2012 playoffs: 2-0 (1st)
2012 CIS tournament: 3-0 (1st)
 
Trinity Western returns to the LEC with one goal in mind: put the opposition away when it's down. Over their last three home matches, the Spartans have had advantages of either 2-1 or 2-0, before allowing, in all three cases, the opposition to rally and win in five sets.
 
However, despite the gut-wrenching setbacks, the Spartans refocused last week and went to Calgary, where they swept a hot Mount Royal side. The most promising aspect of those two wins was the fact that, on both nights, the Spartans finished the job before five sets. After playing five sets in each of their previous five matches, the Spartans completed the weekend sweep in a combined seven sets.
 
The Spartans have begun to embrace the fact that to win matches in an ever-competitive Canada West conference, it will take a collective effort. The Spartans have found success by utilizing their depth, which was showcased this past weekend against MRU, as nine players consistently played in each of the sets, while others were used sporadically throughout the match.
 
The Spartans have been led all year by third-year outside hitter Nick Del Bianco (Surrey, B.C.) and they will need another strong outing from him this weekend if they hope to earn another two-match sweep. Del Bianco leads the team with 3.70 kills per set (5th in Canada West), and has been bullying teams from the baseline, leading the Spartans with 0.33 aces per set (1st in CW). He also leads the team in points per set, with 4.28 (5th in CW).
 
Trinity Western is a team that takes great pride in making it tough for the opposition to score. The first step to this style of play comes in the way of serving, as the Spartans are putting up 1.55 aces per set (1st in CW). The next step is net play, where the Spartans are averaging 2.84 blocks per set (3rd in CW). Finally, the Spartans have been relentless in keeping the ball alive, picking up 12.26 digs per set (1st in CW), which is close to a full dig ahead of the next closest team.
 
Saturday night is senior night for the Spartans, as players Steven Marshall (Abbotsford, B.C.), John Wiebe (Abbotsford), Dan Jansen Van Doorn (Langley) and Jarrod Offereins (Calgary) will play in their last regular season home game for the Spartans.