KAMLOOPS, B.C. – The University of Calgary Dinos clinched a Canada West playoff berth Friday night thanks to their straight-sets (25-18, 28-26, 25-20) win over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack at the Tournament Capital Centre.

Laura McManes posted a sparkling set of statistics for the visitors with nine kills from the outside, while middle Beth Vinnell matched that nine-kill performance on 10 attempts out of the middle.

The Dinos got out to a lead but saw the WolfPack battle back to within three points in the first set. But Calgary managed to get to the first technical time out first. Backed by four kills from McManes, they took the first set by six, 25-19.

In the second set, the Dinos got off to a 13-8 lead until Rachel Windhorst served up three straight points en route to the Pack tying things up at 13. That forced the Dinos to call a time out. The teams battled point for point until the Dinos reached the tech time out leading 16-15.

Two attack errors by Calgary resulted in TRU taking a 20-19 lead. Calgary scored four of the final six points, however to take the second set 28-26. Kate Pexman had five kills to lead the Dinos, while Windhorst had seven kills for the 'Pack in that set.

The WolfPack didn't want to go down without a fight. In the third set, they jumped to a 9-6 advantage. But Calgary bounced back. With the score 11-10 Dinos, TRU head coach Chad Grimm called a time out. The Pack scored fourth straight points but found themselves on the short end of a 16-15 decision going into the technical time out.  The Dinos won the third set 25-20.

"It was a struggle for both teams for quite some time and it finally settled down," said Dinos head coach Al Taylor, handling the team in Natalie Gurnsey's absence this weekend. "We just kept going and were lucky to get the win. Both our middles – one a fifth year, the other a third year, and we were lucky to have good passing tonight which allowed us to use both of them."

The Dinos will face the WolfPack once again Saturday night, with first serve set for 6 p.m. MT, live on CanadaWest.tv.

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