CALGARY – After an up-and-down preseason, the Dinos men's volleyball team opens up their 2019-20 campaign for real this weekend as they host the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Jack Simpson Gym.

The matches will follow the women on both Friday and Saturday, with scheduled start times of 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively. CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op will have live streaming coverage.

FINDING AN IDENTITY
The Dinos had some solid results – notably two wins over Mount Royal and a tight five-set loss to Alberta – in their two preseason tournaments but also had a couple of performances they'd like back, including a 3-1 loss to UBC Okanagan to open the Dino Cup. With plenty of turnover in the lineup and youth at certain positions, some inconsistency is to be expected.

"We have a ton of potential," said Rod Durrant, entering his 14th season at the helm of the program. "We're young in some spots, but we've shown we can compete with some teams. However, we have to be really focused on our side of the net to be competitive with everybody."

McNICOL COMES HOME
Former UBC Thunderbird Mac McNicol returns to his hometown to play his fifth season of eligibility with the Dinos, and he'll help replace some of the offence of the departed Tim Taylor. The 6-foot-8, 200-pound outside hitter has shown well in the early part of the season, and Durrant is looking forward to his continued presence on the floor.

"Mac has been a great addition with his experience and maturity, and he's a really good team guy. He'll help split the court, and that's a huge addition."

EXPERIENCE AT KEY SPOTS
Despite the graduation of fifth-year setter Blain Cranston after last season, the Dinos are set in the setter spot with third-year Tomas Sorra, a former junior national teamer, who will get his first crack at starting in that pivotal role. He'll be joined by the tandem of fifth-year Mitchell Higgin and fourth-year Liam Laidlaw in the middle, the position at which the Dinos have the most experience.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES
Match Info Friday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. – Jack Simpson Gym
2018-19 Record 12-10, 5th place
Player to Watch Fourth-year setter CJ Gavlas returns to the program after a year away.

NOTES

• The Huskies will be led by their third head coach in as many seasons as Sean McKay takes over the program. McKay has plenty of Calgary ties, having coached SAIT for the past three seasons.
• Saskatchewan finished fifth in the conference at 12-10 last season, falling two matches to none in the Mount Royal Cougars in the conference quarter-final round.
• The Dinos and Huskies split their two regular season meetings last year in Saskatoon, with Calgary picking up an important 3-2 win on the second day. The Dinos are 3-1 in their last four regular season meetings with the Dogs.

UP NEXT
The Dinos head west to Kamloops, B.C. to face Thompson Rivers next weekend.

-UC-