Playoff hopes dashed on final day for women’s volleyball

CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women’s volleyball team saw their 2023-24 season come to a close Saturday night with a 3-1 loss to Trinity Western from the Jack Simpson Gym.

It was an impressive bounce back by No. 4 TWU. After an upset win by the Dinos on Friday, the Spartans were in control early before finding a way to close things out late, 25-22, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22.

The Dinos entered the day in a three-way tie for the eighth and final playoff spot, but had their fate already sealed with results elsewhere as they close the year with a 9-14 conference slate.

Meanwhile, the Spartans improve to 19-5 on the year and will host a playoff series at home, finishing as the fourth seed in the final Canada West standings.

Evelyn Kath led the way for the Dinos on the night, serving up 33 assists to go with 11 digs for her third double-double on the year. 

Daisy Olsen had a game-high 13 kills to go with seven digs and three aces, while Sheridan Coninx tallied 11 kills on .375 hitting.

Erika Bang finished with a team-high 10 kills for Trinity Western in the win. Sydney Gill finished one dig shy of a double-double with 24 assists on the night, while Kendra Kern added another 10 assists for TWU.

Kirsten Kampman also had an impressive showing, leading the way with five of the Spartans 14 aces on the night.

Despite their postseason fate already being decided just a few hours before first serve, the Dinos came out looking for their second upset in as many nights. An ace from Olsen capped a 3-0 run to tie things up at 18-all late, but the Spartans used a 6-1 run that featured two kills from Kampman to establish control to take the opening set.

A pair of early runs saw TWU establish a quick 9-4 edge that ballooned to 22-13 as the visitors were able to hold off a late push by the Dinos to go ahead 2-0.

Calgary showed resilience in the third, jumping ahead 13-7 after a block by Coninx and Carolyn Berze. Trinity Western cut the gap to just two at 17-15 after an ace by Kaylee Plouffe, but the Dinos were able to regroup and pull back ahead to get on the board at 2-1.

With momentum on their side, the Dinos jumped out to an 8-3 lead right out of the gates in the fourth, only to see the Spartans roar back and take an 11-10 advantage after an ace by Bang. A kill by Alice Nikolaychuk kept it a one-score game at 18-17 late, but the Spartans proved to be too much, closing things out with a big block by Jayda Harder and Grace McGillivray to seal this one.

Calgary now turns its attention to the offseason, while the Spartans get set to host a playoff series at home next weekend.

-UC-