BOX SCORE CALGARY – The Trinity Western Spartans extended their streak to 27 consecutive sets with a 3-0 win over a scrappy University of Calgary Dinos squad Thursday night (25-23, 25-23, 25-16). 

Both teams came to play as the energy on the court was high with both teams offering up stellar performances to start the first set. Mitch Higgin was key at the net for the Dinos as the fifth-year middle laid it down against the Spartans early in the set, coupled with a strong defensive performance by fourth-year Liam Laidlaw. With the Dinos putting up a fight and threatening TWU's 24-set streak the Spartans looked to Jackson Howe to smother the Dinos power at the net. The third-year Calgary native posted two consecutive points for the Spartans late in the first to help them clench the set. 

The Dinos came to play in the second set – going up 7-3 out of the gate thanks to Mac McNicol who had a bit of a slow start in the first set. With the surging Dinos once again threatening, the Spartans rallied back with four consecutive points halfway through the set to tie things up. With both teams trading points back and forth on the back of strong performances by fifth-year Mac McNicol and third-year Eric Loepkky (TWU), it was Howe who once again finished off the set with a kill for the Spartans.

After posting 12 service aces through the first two sets, the Dinos were looking to stay sharp as it was do or die in the third set. The duo of McNicol and Liam Laidlaw offered up three consecutive kills early in the third to put the Dinos up by two. While both teams continued to keep their energy high through the set it was the Dinos who started to lose steam first as the Spartans pulled ahead. With the Dinos falling behind the Spartans put on a masterclass to take the set 25-16 and extend their win streak to nine matches.

McNicol led the Dinos, offering up 12 kills and two service aces on the night. With both Hamish Hazelden and Parker Siroishka out with injuries, it was Reece Lehman who stepped in to offer some power on the outside for the Dinos. Third-year Lehman played a key role in the Dinos strong performance through the first and second sets.

"We battled hard and we were neck and neck and just a couple plays swung the other way," said Lehman. I"f we can continue (performing) tomorrow and just make those couple plays we can swing it our way."

On the Spartans side it was Howe and Loeppky who led the way with 10 and nine kills, respectively. 

Both teams will be back in action again tomorrow night at Jack Simpson Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. MT.

-UC-