CALGARY – The wait is officially over for the University of Calgary men's volleyball team.

After the cancellation of the 2020-21 sports season across Canada, the Dinos officially begin their return to the court this weekend with a weekend doubleheader against cross-town rival Mount Royal University Cougars.

The first serve on Friday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., directly following the women's home opener, while Saturday's showdown will start at 5 p.m., with the women's action to follow.

FOR STARTERS
The Dinos have a strong history of starting strong. Calgary has posted a W in four of its last five season openers, including a 3-2 comeback thriller over Saskatchewan in 2019-20. That win also added to the Dinos impressive run in home openers, going 9-3 in their first game at The Jack in the last 12 years.

LOOKING BACK AT LAST SEASON
Calgary hovered right around .500 throughout the majority of the 2019-20 season, earning the fifth seed in the Canada West standings with a 12-10 record before closing out their season in the CW Playoffs.

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Head coach Rod Durrant – now in his 15th season with the Dinos – will have plenty of new faces coming into the 2021-22 season, but also a good amount of returning talent. In fact, 10 starters return to this year's lineup from two years ago, while 10 rookies join the ranks. Nine of the 10 first years hail from right here in Alberta, while 6-foot, 9-inch middle Louis Kuntsmann joins the Dinos from Bad Soden, Germany.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs MOUNT ROYAL
Game Info: Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m; Saturday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
2019-20 Record: 9-13, 8th in Canada West
Player to Watch: Third-year Chris Byam ranked second for the Cougars in 2019-20 with a total of 205 kills

NOTES:

• Last season, Calgary and Mount Royal split the Crowchild Classic, with each team winning five-setters on their home courts.
• The Cougars return nine players from their last season while welcoming seven rookies to this year's roster.
• Head coach Shawn Sky enters his 17th season at Mount Royal.
• The Cougars and Dinos will face off six total times this season, three on each team's home court. 

UP NEXT
The Dinos continue a four-match homestand to start the season, hosting the MacEwan Griffins inside Jack Simpson Gym next weekend, Nov. 12-13.

-UC-