WINNIPEG – The University of Calgary Dinos held on to their hope of a home playoff date Friday night, taking the first of two in a must-win series over the Winnipeg Wesmen in four sets (25-21, 25-22, 16-25, 25-18).

The win improves the Dinos to 10-9 on the season, one match back of the Wesmen for fifth in Canada West and two behind fourth-place Brandon with just three to play.

The Dinos took the first sets by 25-21 and 25-22 scores before the Wesmen exploded for a 25-16 third-set victory. Calgary responded to end it in four, taking it 25-18.

Daniel Thiessen had his fifth double-double of the season with a match-high 19 kills and 13 digs to lead the Wesmen. Ethan Duncan added nine kills and Darian Picklyk had a match-high 16 digs. Liam Kristjanson, who subbed in starting in Set 2, added seven kills on 16 swings and hit .375 with two aces. 

Calgary (10-9) was led by Hamish Hazelden and Mac McNicol who both had 13 kills with McNicol adding 11 digs. Liam Kuppe added 12 kills. 

The Dinos hit .280 for the night including .303 in the first and .343 in the second. 

"This time of the year, you know you're gonna get a battle when you come into Winnipeg," Calgary head coach Rod Durrant said. "They're well-coached, they're prepared. They're ahead of us in the standings, so we needed to come in here and compete with a good team. 

"I just think we've got two balanced teams. I think we did a better job in Set 4, coming back and passing the ball a little bit better and allowed our setter to run an offence. It's a battle when we come up against this team and you've just gotta earn your points. 

The two teams meet again Saturday.

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