CALGARY – Despite a career high in kills for Trinity Solecki, the University of Calgary Dinos fought hard but came away empty-handed as the Mount Royal Cougars clinched a 3-1 win in the Jack Simpson Gym Friday evening (25-18, 18-25, 25-16, 25-19). 

First-year outside hitter Solecki took the offense into her own hands tonight and scored a career-high 19 kills, ten digs and three blocks. Kenzie Vaandering and Autumn Davidson chipped in with six kills apiece. On the Cougars end, middle Tasha Holness scored a kill on almost every one of her step attacks, finishing the night with 16 successful kills and six blocks. 

Despite Solecki locking down five kills in the Dinos' first ten points, unforced errors from the Dinos handed the Cougars easy points for a 25-18 win. 

In the second set, the Dinos secured their momentum on a six-point run, in which the Dinos hit a .265 hitting percentage and only three hitting errors compared to the Cougars .095 and eight errors. The Dinos squad excelled in limiting Cougar opportunities to score as Autumn Davidson secured five blocks that sparked contagious energy from the home crowd. 

Head coach Natalie Gurnsey likens the third set to her view of the Dinos' potential.

"We passed really well in that set so that we could actually generate some offence and Trin proved to be difficult to stop," she said. "We really kept pushing hard and we served really well so we were able to go on some point runs and force the Cougars out of system more." 

In the third set, the Cougars regained control of the offensive frame as they registered a team hitting percentage of .222 and Cassidy Kitchen notched four momentum-shifting kills. However, the score of set three did not reflect the Dinos' uncompromising hustle as they fought for every ball despite lengthy rallies. Vaandering, Lexi Peart, and Solecki all recorded double digit digs at 14,10 and 10 respectively. 

The Dinos did not give up in round four and mounted a comeback at 9-18, managing to come within four but strong serves allowed the Cougars to wrap up the night with a 25-18 win. 

The Cougars will progress to 15-3 while the Dinos fall to 6-12. Next weekend the Dinos will head north to Edmonton for a two-game matchup against provincial rivals the University of Alberta Pandas 7:30 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday at the Saville Community Sports Centre. Mount Royal will welcome the University of Saskatchewan Huskies to the Kenyon Court.
 
-UC-