CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos men's volleyball team posted a win in straight sets over the MacEwan University Griffins Friday night at Jack Simpson Gymnasium (25-21, 25-13, 29-27).
With the win the Dinos improve their record to 4-1 on the season and appear locked and loaded as things start to ramp up in Canada West volleyball.
The first set got off to a slow start with both team trading points back and forth, however the Dinos came to play in the latter half of the set. It was fifth-year
Mac McNicol who executed a pair of well-timed kills late in the first set to completely shift the momentum in the Dinos favour as they took the first set 25-21.
Starting off similarly to the first set, both teams traded points early before the Dinos surged ahead to take control. The Griffins were no match for the barrage of attacks from across the entire Dinos lineup as the Dinos eventually went up to lead the set by 10 points. First year
Tyler Funk sealed the deal with the final kill against the Griffins to take the set 25-13.
Heading into the third set it was do or die for the Griffins who needed to take the set if they had any chance of coming away with a win this evening. The Griffins came to play in the third set taking an early lead of seven points thanks to second year Noah Johnson whose power through the middle overwhelmed the Dinos defense. With the Griffins holding a comfortable lead through half the set the Dinos surged back to tie things 19-19. After trading points back and forth it was the Dinos who came out on top at the end of the long third set, taking it 29-27.
Leading the Calgary was fourth-year
Hamish Hazelden, who lead the Dinos in kills with 10 on the evening. For the Griffins fifth-year Max Vriend, and second-year Noah Johnson led their team with 9.5 and 8.5 points apiece.
Fourth-year
Hamish Hazelden was keen to comment on how well the team came together in the third set to take the win.
"I think we won the first two sets pretty confidently and everything seemed to be going really well and then when things weren't going so well in the third set, we did well to bring it back and that's huge."
The Dinos will be looking to sweep the Griffins this weekend with action resuming Saturday evening at Jack Simpson Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m., live on CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.
-UC-
