Block party not enough as Wesmen spoil Dinos big night at the net

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Wesmen needed a win in the worst way and they used one of their best performances of the season to get it. 

Keeping faint playoff hopes alive, the Wesmen took down Challenge No. 1 Friday, knocking off the Calgary Dinos 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 25-13) in a Canada West conference clash at the Duckworth Centre. 

The Wesmen managed to pull the Dinos back towards them in the conference standings as they upped their record 7-14 while Calgary dipped to 8-13. Saskatchewan, which beat Regina on Friday, is also at 8-13 while Mount Royal and Thompson Rivers have the same record as the Wesmen, making the final three matches all must-win for Winnipeg if it hopes to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season. 

A key turning point Friday was a third-set battle that almost went drastically south for the Wesmen. Winnipeg led 19-12 before giving up a five-point run, and went ahead again 22-18, seemingly in full control. At 23-19, however, the Dinos cued a 5-1 run to tie the set at 24 and force extra points. But a kill by Jaya Dzikowicz and a Calgary attack error allowed the Wesmen to survive and take a lead into the fourth set, which was entirely without drama. 

Dzikowicz had a match-high 12 kills and added 12 digs to a team total of 63. Selva Planincic added 10 and 15, the fourth time in five matches she’s registered double-digit digs. She also hit .333 with just three errors on 21 swings. 

Brooke Duncalfe added 11 digs and Portia Switzer 10.

Calgary was led by Sammi Boag’s nine kills.

One of the best blocking teams in the country, the Dinos put up 24 block assists and a solo compared to four and three from Winnipeg. 

The two teams close out the weekend set Saturday scheduled for a 5:45 p.m. MT start following the men’s game.

-UC-