CALGARY – The No. 7 University of Calgary Dinos fell in a five set rally against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 3-2, (29-27, 25-16, 18-25, 23-25, 15-13) on Feb. 13th at the Jack Simpson Gym.
The Thunderbirds now lead the playoff series 1-0, both teams will face each other tomorrow evening where the Dinos will get a chance to tie the series at the Jack Simpson Gym at 6 p.m.
Calgary's two leading scorers were Ali Woolley and Kate Pexman, Woolley had 18 kills while Pexman had 17. Setter Jordhynn Guy led both teams with 49 assists.
"You can never get comfortable against a good team like UBC," explained head coach Natalie Gurnsey. "They're experienced with a ton of fifth years on their team that stepped up especially in the last three sets."
The Dinos now fall to 14-11 as they take the first match in a best of three playoff series, while the Thunderbirds improve to 14-11. The winner of the series will move onto the final four Canada West Semi-Finals, which will be hosted by the University of Alberta Pandas.
To started off the match, the Dinos trailed from behind until the very end of the first set. The Thunderbirds held a lead of three points at the technical time out. After the technical timeout, Dinos' Moffatt played a major factor in rallying the Dinos to take the first set. It was a nail bitter going to extra points where the Dinos eventually prevailed 29-27.
"Jaylynn Moffatt was a standout. She was last time we played them too, she was solid tonight," said Gurnsey.
The second was a different story. Calgary were the ones to start with a lead in this set and ran with it, as they downed UBC 25-16. Calgary maintained their lead throughout the set, UBC made a close comeback just before the technical timeout where they were within four but Calgary would continue to attack and take the set.
The Thunderbirds battled back in the third set holding a 16-11 lead over the Dinos at the technical timeout. The Thunderbirds weren't looking for a repeat of the first set. The Dinos switched up the line-up putting first year Erica Myhre and second year Jana Ogle in, in an attempt to shake things up. The Thunderbirds defense however was digging deep to hold their lead and shut down the Dinos offence. Their lead of 16-11 grew to 23-17 where they continued to connect, taking their first set with a 25-18 score.
The Dinos reverted to their original lineup in the fourth set looking to find the momentum they had in the first and second sets. Both teams battled it out with going point for point just before the technical timeout. The Thunderbirds lead the Dinos 16-14 at the technical timeout and would continue to add to their score. It looked like the Dinos were on they're way to a comeback with an overturned final point but the Thunderbirds took it, tying the sets at two-a-piece with a score of 25-23.
In the final set of the evening neither team was willing to lose the first playoff match without a fight. At the technical timeout UBC lead 8-6, Calgary cut the lead and tied it up 12-12. UBC fought this one out and came out on top with a 15-13 final, taking the first playoff match.
"We need to remain confident, we knew it was going to be a tough series," stated Gurnsey.
The Dinos and Thunderbirds will continue this playoff series tomorrow evening at the Jack Simpson Gym at 6 p.m.
