CALGARY – For the second time in three weeks, the University of Calgary Dinos host the UBC Thunderbirds in women's volleyball – and this time, it's with a trip to the conference championship on the line.

The best-of-three Canada West semifinal gets underway Friday night with first serve at 6 p.m. Game 2 goes Saturday, also at 6 p.m., with a third and deciding game, if necessary, set for noon on Sunday. All matches will be held in the Jack Simpson Gym.

LAST WEEK
The No. 1-seeded Dinos continued their winning streak after beating the Manitoba Bisons in the quarter-final last week two games to none, while the Thunderbirds needed a pair of five-set wins on the road to eliminate the Regina Cougars in the playoffs' opening round last week. Just two weeks ago, these two teams met in the Jack Simpson Gym with the Dinos taking 3-0 and 3-1 wins to clinch first place.

T-NASTY PACES DINOS
Hannah Tanasichuk picked up 32 kills, averaging four per set, in the Dinos' two-game win over Manitoba in the quarter-final. She added a pair of solo blocks, a .300 hitting percentage, and five service aces over the weekend to lead the Dinos into the semis and lock in their trip to Edmonton for the national championship.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kiera Van Ryk from the UBC Thunderbirds continues Canada West in kills with 398, while Calgary's Hannah Tanasichuk stands below with 284 kills. UBC's Tessa Davis stands in third place in assists per set, with .317, and Calgary's Beth Vinnell leads with a .382 hitting percentage.

ROAD WARRIORS
This is UBC's third consecutive week on the road, a stretch that could go as far as five straight weeks if the Thunderbirds get past the Dinos and travel to the conference final next week. All four remaining teams in Canada West – Calgary, UBC, Alberta, and Trinity Western – have qualified for the U SPORTS women's volleyball championship March 15-17 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs UBC THUNDERBIRDS
Series Info Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 2 at 6 p.m., Sunday, March 3 at 12 p.m. (if necessary) – Jack Simpson Gym
2018-19 Record 15-9, 5th in Canada West
Players to Watch Kiera Van Ryk (4.52 kills/set), Olivia Furlan (9.39 assists/set)

UP NEXT
The top team of the semifinal will take on the winner of the Alberta-Trinity Western series in the Canada West final next weekend, with both teams having clinched their spots at the nationals in Edmonton March 15-18.

-UC-