CALGARY – With a berth at nationals locked up, the University of Calgary Dinos shift their attention to the Canada West crown as they begin their semifinal series against the Alberta Pandas this weekend at the Jack Simpson Gym.

When taking on the Mount Royal Cougars last weekend, the University of Calgary women's volleyball team dominated at the net to defeat their rivals, winning their best-of-three Canada West quarter-final 2-0. With the final game of the rivalry, the Dinos totalled 38 kills, while notching 28 blocks as a team. Kate Pexman paced the Dinos with team-high 12 kills, while Jaylynn Moffatt followed closely with nine kills and three digs. Leah Shevkenek added 29 helpers, three kills and seven digs.

Pexman and Beth Vinell top not only Dinos rankings but those of Canada West as well, with both athletes representing the University of Calgary on the conference's first all-star team. Pexman led the Canada West with 3.90 kills per set and ranked 10th in total kills with 273 despite missing six games. The third-year Dino was sixth in the conference in hitting percentage at .263 and 12th in digs per set at 2.90. Vinnell, on the other hand, topped Canada West with a .443 hitting percentage and was one of the conference's top blockers. She placed second with a 112 block total and fourth at 1.19 blocks per set.

The Pandas earned the fourth seed for the Canada West regular season, with a 15-9 conference mark, hitting a .214 and noting an average 11.91 kills per set. In the decisive Game 3 that propelled them into the semifinals, Alberta eliminated the Trinity Western Spartans with a 3-0 decision (25-17, 27-25, 26-24). Erin Corbett finished with a game-high 15 kills, while Kory White closed the match off with 12 on 38 attempts. Fifth-year setter Eryn Orysiuk also had another strong performance for Alberta, leading the match with 40 assists, and adding a game-high 15 digs. 

DETAILS
Canada West Semifinal (best-of-three)
Date: Friday, March 2 through Sunday, March. 4 (if necessary)
Time: 6 p.m. MT Friday and Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday (if necessary)
Venue: Jack Simpson Gym, University of Calgary

HEADLINES

• The Dinos and Pandas split their two meetings during the regular season, both in Edmonton.
• Calgary's Kate Pexman and Beth Vinnell along with Alberta's Kory White were both named Canada West first team all-stars.
• Both teams qualified for the U Sports national championship with wins in the quarter-finals.

No. 1 CALGARY DINOS (21-3)

• The Dinos have a share of the No. 1 ranking in women's volleyball for the first time since Jan. 23, 2007.
• Calgary is headed to their first national championship tournament since 2009.
• Kate Pexman topped the conference in kills at 3.90 per set, while also finishing sixth in hitting percentage.
• Beth Vinnell was the most accurate attacker in the league, hitting at a .443 clip – more than 10 percent better than second place.

ALBERTA PANDAS (15-9)

• The Pandas advanced to the semifinals by knocking off the Trinity Western Spartans last weekend in three games.
• Alberta held a 5-6 record away from home during the regular season.
• Kory White tied for first in Canada West with 353 kills in the regular season.
• Two Pandas cracked the Canada West all-star teams, while two more appeared on the conference's all-rookie squad.