CALGARY – It wasn't a Rembrandt, not by a long shot – but the fourth-ranked University of Calgary Dinos managed to stave off the plucky MacEwan University Griffins Saturday night in the Jack Simpson Gym, taking home a four-set victory (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-20).

The result lifts Calgary's record to 15-3 – their first 15-win season since a 16-2 effort in 2010-11 – and keeps them in second place in Canada West with four matches to play, while MacEwan falls to 1-15 in its sophomore CIS season.

With a new-look lineup featuring Alex Cook at setter and Ivan Kartev in the middle, the Dinos struggled mightily to find their rhythm off the top, and the Griffins were happy to pounce on the opportunity. MacEwan scored the first seven points of the night, and it was libero Derek Meeuwisse who finally picked up the Dinos' first kill to make it 9-3. As the set wore on, the Dinos were able to pull within one point at 22-21, but the mountain was too high as the visitors took the opener 25-22, thanks in large part to 11 hitting errors and five service errors by the Dinos.

Putting that set behind them, the home side settled in and began to assert themselves more coherently in the second, hitting nearly 30 per cent in the frame to take it 25-22 and going on to win the match in four.

"It was a little different with me setting out there tonight after playing middle [Friday]," said fourth-year setter Cook, "but we kind of got in a groove there and settled down and focused on our block defence to get it done in the last three sets."

After picking up four kills and five blocks Friday night in the middle, Cook recorded 44 set assists, three blocks, and six digs – along with three kills – quarterbacking the Dinos offence Saturday. Curtis Stockton once again led the way offensively with 20 kills, while Keith West pounded 12 to go with eight digs.

Ryan McDonald paced the Griffins' offence with 11 kills on the night, while Shane Kerrison also hit double digits with 10. MacEwan hit at an 18 per cent clip on the night, against the Dinos' 25 per cent.

With the toughest portion of their schedule upcoming, the Dinos were happy to get two victories as the favoured team on the weekend.

"These wins are huge – you need to win these games to be in the best position heading into the playoffs," explained Cook. "It was a big two wins, and we're looking forward to next weekend."

The Dinos play a home-and-home set with crosstown rival Mount Royal next weekend, beginning Friday night at Kenyon Court before returning to the Jack Simpson Gym Saturday. MacEwan, meanwhile, remains on the road for another weekend as they get set to face the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon.

-UC-