KELOWNA, B.C. - The University of Calgary Dinos picked up their first weekend sweep of the season Saturday night, improving to 5-7 with a straight-sets win over the UBC Okanagan Heat (25-19, 25-21, 27-25).
The 5-7 record puts the Dinos in eighth place in Canada West with 10 matches to play, with the top eight teams qualifying for postseason play. UBC Okanagan falls to 0-14.
Max Heppell had 11 kills for the home team to lead all attackers while Devon Cote had nine kills and Denham O'Reilly stuffed the stat sheet with eight kills, seven digs, four blocks and two aces.
For Calgary is was
Tim Taylor who led the attack for the second straight night as he finished with a game-high 18 kills to go with five digs.
Mitchell Higgin also had 10 kills for the visitors on just 16 attacks.
The Dinos held the advantage on the stat sheet in kills (39-36), attack percentage (.273-.186) and digs (32-27). Both teams struggled from the service line as the Heat committed 17 errors compared to nine for Calgary.
First set:
It wasn't until the midway point of the opening set until either team gained any separation, as the visiting Dinos went on a 5-1 run to build a 19-15 lead nearing the end of the frame. Max Heppell would cut the deficit down at 20-17 but Calgary closed with a flurry, scoring five of the final six points in the first.
Second set:
The opening six points of the second went the Dinos way as well, capped off by a big swing from senior outside hitter
Tim Taylor. UBCO started to find its stride however as the set progressed, ultimately evening up the set at 14 following a Denham O'Reilly and Shawn Zhao block. It was the visitors once again who found the finishing touch in the frame as they snuck back out to a 20-18 lead and would ultimately claim the second 25-21.
Third set:
In what was the most entertaining set of the match, the third would have huge momentum swings for both teams. First it was the home team, who built a 20-14 advantage capped off by a Shawn Zhao service ace to take command of the set. Calgary would counter however, as they scored the next six points to tie things up at 20 looking to close out the match.
After Max Heppell gave UBCO the lead back at 22-21, three straight Dinos points followed as they have two chances at match point. Two errors from Calgary kept the Heat alive but a couple points later the visitors would close the match out with
Liam Laidlaw scoring the last two points on a big kill and a block.
What's next:
The Heat (0-14) will now hit the road as they travel to play two games against the Manitoba Bisons (4-8) next weekend. Calgary (5-7) will be on their home floor to take on the Winnipeg Wesmen (5-7) as both teams battle for playoff positioning.
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