KAMLOOPS, B.C. – The University of Calgary Dinos all but assured a home playoff date Saturday night as they completed a weekend sweep of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack with a 3-1 win (25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 25-17) Saturday night.
The victory improves the Dinos to 15-3 on the season and puts them just inches away from mathematically clinching home court advantage for the quarterfinal round of the Canada West playoffs – a key consideration with all four quarterfinal winners out of the conference advancing to the national championship.
The trio of
Laura McManes,
Kate Pexman, and
Beth Vinnell once again led the way for Calgary offensively with 11, 10, and 10 kills respectively, while Pexman added 10 digs and
Jaylynn Moffatt was in on nine of the team's 10 blocks on the night as they dropped the WolfPack to 7-13 on the campaign.
Calgary held as big as a three point lead in the first set but were up only one going into the technical time out. The Dinos won the first set 25-22 thanks to four kills from McManes. Mikayla Funk had six hills to lead TRU.
The second set saw Calgary go on a 6-0 run with the score 7-5. This included two service aces by McManes. WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm switched setters down 15-7 bringing in Anastasiya Muzyka to replace Abby Spratt. The Dinos led by nine going into the break. Moffatt and McManes each had three kills in the second set powering Calgary to a 25-17 victory.
Facing another early night, the WolfPack came out with their strongest effort of the match in the third and took a pair of 3-0 runs to open up an 11-6 lead and went into the technical time out up 16-9. Calgary came out of the time out on fire and clawed back to tie the set at 17. The set saw Kendra Finch in to play libero for the 'Pack as they won 25-22 to cut the deficit to 2-1.
In the fourth set, the teams battled again with Calgary leading at the technical time out. The Dinos opened up a six-point lead (19-13) and rolled to a 25-17 win. They were led in that set by McManes with four kills. She had a team high 11 on the night.
The Dinos return home next weekend to face the Trinity Western Spartans (13-5) in an important weekend for playoff positioning. First serve is set for 6 p.m. Friday, with Saturday's tilt at 4 p.m.
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