CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos men's volleyball team fed off a boisterous crowd at the Jack Simpson Gym to sweep their provincial rival, the Alberta Golden Bears, with a 3-0 result (25-20, 25-21, 20-18) at the annual Block Party on Friday night.

Playing in front of over 1,000 fans, the Dinos improved their record to 5-8. The result marked Calgary's first regular season win over Alberta since 2022 and first three-set victory since 2009. 

The Dinos finished the night with an impressive .410 hitting percentage and were fuelled by outside hitter Erik Godwin and Cole Czepuryk who each totalled nine kills. 

The Golden Bears drop to 8-3 on the campaign. Jacob Sargent led the Alberta attack with nine kills.

"We're trying to play aggressive, but have fun at the same time," said Dinos rookie Matthew Brown. "Of course, we gave it our all for the Battle of Alberta, but at the end of the day it's a just game, and I'm grateful to be playing the game I love."

Both teams traded points to open the first set following a few service errors on both sides. Service aces from Godwin and C. Czepuryk helped build momentum for Calgary, while Alberta's Owen Harris answered with timely kills to keep the set close. A kill by first- year outside hitter Jackson Vandersteen sparked a four-point run for the Dinos, and Czepuryk capped the set with a service ace to seal the 25-20 win.

The second set was tight, with both teams trading points early. Calgary stayed composed under pressure, gradually pulling ahead thanks to key kills from Brown, Vandersteen, Godwin, and C. Czepuryk. Vandersteen also contributed a service ace that helped extend the Dinos' lead. Alberta fought back with strong plays from Sargent and Dylan Martens, but Calgary's steady serving, disciplined defence, and thoughtful sets from Brown kept the team ahead, allowing them to close out the set 25-21.

The Golden Bears came back in the third set, scoring the opening two points. Calgary responded after settling in, drawing level before pulling ahead 8-6. The set developed into a back-and-forth battle, with both teams fighting through extended rallies and tough defensive plays. Calgary limited errors and continued to apply offensive pressure, building a 20-15 advantage. Ethan Czepuryk was consistent at the net, helping the Dinos maintain their edge and secure the sweeps

The Dinos will return to the Jack Simpson Gym to face the Golden Bears at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday.

-UC-