CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos men's volleyball team shut down the surging MacEwan University Griffins with a win in four sets (20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 27-25) Saturday night at Jack Simpson Gymnasium.

The Dinos remain unbeaten against the Griffins since MacEwan University joined Canada West in 2014 and improve their record on the season to 5-1.

The Griffins came to play this evening and led the Dinos through the entirety of the first set. Max Vriend, MacEwan's veteran outside hitter, was a force to be reckoned with, delivering a total of six kills to help the Griffins top the Dinos in the opening set 25-20.

Opening the second set the Dinos went up 3-0 to lead the Griffins early however the Griffins put up a fight to match the Dinos energy and even things up. The teams continued to trade points throughout the set until the Dinos pulled away thanks to series of kills by third year outside hitter Parker Siroishka. The Griffins were no match for the Dinos momentum as third-year Liam Kuppe finished off the set for the Dinos, taking it 25-19. 

With both teams offering high energy on the court in the third set it was the Dinos who took the early lead. As the Griffins surged back from an early deficit both teams traded points through the teens with Max Vriend once again showing his prowess on the court as he led the Griffins in kills. While the Griffins put up a strong fight it was the Dinos who eventually took the set 25-22.

The MacEwan Griffins came out of the gate strong to begin the fourth-set with the Dinos surging back to tie things up early in the set as the teams continued to trade points back and forth. With the Dinos up 6-5 it was first year Olamide Ajayi who sent the Griffins on a three-point run with three consecutive kills to take control of the set. The Dinos rallied back and the teams continued to trade points with the Dinos eventually taking the set 27-25.

Leading the Dinos charge this evening was fifth-year Mac McNicol who led the Dinos with 16 kills. Third-year Parker Siroishka also played a key role in this evening's game offering up several perfectly timed kills – "I kind of had a struggle this year getting into a groove with my play so it was a nice welcoming to have a win and play well." On the Griffins side it was fifth-year Max Vriend who played a leading role, leading both teams in kills offering up 24 on the night. 

The Dinos will be back in action next weekend at War Memorial Gymnasium in Vancouver as they take on the UBC Thunderbirds on Nov. 15-16, live on CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.

-UC-