CALGARY – Arising from a dominating effort from the service line, the University of Calgary Dinos women's volleyball team came within two points of dethroning the No. 1 Trinity Western Spartans Thursday evening in a relentless five-set battle (25-20,18-25, 25-22,17-25,15-13). 

Senior Spartan Hilary Howe took care of the majority of the offensive volume tonight, coming away with a double-double 17 kills and 13 digs. On the Dinos side, Lexi Peart led a balanced attack with a match-high 45 assists, dishing out 12 kills to Beth Vinnell and 13 to both Trinity Solecki and Adriel Goodman. The Dinos had an impressive night at the serving line, in which they came away with 17 total aces. 

The first set of the night started off slow for the Dinos as they learned to adapt around the Spartan's far-reaching blocks. Trinity Western edged the Dinos with a .433 hitting accuracy, ultimately leading them to persevere in five final points of no errors.

In round two, the Dinos quickly found their offensive momentum with vigor and played their best set of the season at home. The defending CW champions were shocked into silence as a service ace from Autumn Davidson sealed the 25-18 win. 

Adriel Goodman sparked some heat into the offense in the third set, taking advantage of holes in the block and the Spartan's defensive errors. 

Veteran libero Kennedy Snape took the defense to another level of scrappy in the fourth set, earning her team 14 digs, however, it was rookie Trinity Solecki that topped the defensive scoreboard tonight, with 17 total digs.  

Set five proved to be a game of unforced errors, as two service aces from Avery Heppell gave the Spartans a assertive 7-3 lead. Calgary hustled to tie up the game at 11-11, but a kill from Hilary Howe propelled the Spartans across the finish line.

"We've been focusing on taking care of each point as it comes instead of being worried about the outcome, and focusing on our mindset every time we step on the floor," said head coach Natalie Gurnsey. "Last weekend we did well and managed to get a win out of it, taking the pressure off our back and this allowed us to build some momentum and confidence that really transpired into the match today." 

The Dinos squad are eager to make up for those two points during tomorrow's rematch at 6 p.m. in the Jack Simpson Gym. 

-UC-