CALGARY – In a game with major playoff implications, the University of Calgary Dinos men's volleyball team earned a 3-1 win (25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22) over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Friday night at Jack Simpson Gym.

With one game left in the regular season, Calgary improved to 7-12 and moved into 10th place – the final playoff spot in Canada West. Thompson Rivers dropped to 6-13.

Calgary came out of the gates hot, taking a commanding 14-7 lead midway through the first set. Sam Kay led the way with a huge block and multiple kills, but a TRU run brought the score within one point at 22-21.

A kill from Cole Czepuryk prevented the 24-24 tie, giving the Dinos a 25-23 win in the first set. 

The second was just as tight, with the team trading points to a 9-9 score. Two kills from Ryan Ibbetson and Lincoln Wagner led the Wolfpack to a 13-9 lead, and while the Dinos got the score back within two late, TRU's Alex Howard gave them their 24th point before a Dinos error evened the match at 1-1.

Unfazed from the second set loss, the Dinos jumped early in the third, eventually leading 14-7. Head coach Graham Vigrass said his team embraced the pressure.

"We didn't want to shy away from this being a huge match," Vigrass said. "Just lean into it. If you're nervous, that's fine. But try not to shy away."

TRU stormed back, though, going on a 7-2 run and tightening the score 16-14. At 22-19, Dinos libero Emil Olsen made a highlight reel kick save on a ball surely going out, helping the Dinos a comfortable 23-19 lead they would not give up. 

The fourth set was more of the same. The Dinos got up to a 16-11 lead before TRU fought back to make it 23-22. But back-to-back blocks from Luke Nodwell and Sam Kay finished it for the Dinos, as they won the fourth set 25-22 and the match 3-1.

"No matter the game, try not to fake anything," said Vigrass. "It's the same message going into tomorrow."

Sam Kay led the Dinos with 14 kills, while Czepuryk added 10 in the win.

Howard fuelled the WolfPack attack with a game-high 18 kills.

The two teams are back in action again Saturday at the Jack Simpson Gym to decide the final playoff spot. First serve is set for 5:45 p.m., in what could be the last game of the season for either team.

-UC-