CALGARY – In an instant classic that featured two high-powered Canada West teams, the University of Calgary Dinos men’s volleyball team’s comeback effort fell just short in a 3-2 loss to Fraser Valley Friday evening from the Jack Simpson Gym.
Fraser Valley claimed the first two sets, only to see the Dinos roar back to take this one to five before coming up just short in extras in the fifth, 24-26, 15-25, 25-23, 25-23, 14-16.
Jonas Van Huizen led the way for the Cascades with 26 kills while hitting .400 for the match to go with 11 digs. Nimo Benne added 16 kills, while Caleb Kastelein (12) and Ryan Hampe (10) both also finished the night with double-digit kills.
Silas Van Huizen guided the UFV attack with 51 assists in the win.
Louis Kunstmann had a career-high 26 kills to lead the Dinos, while Erik Godwin added another 15 to go with three aces. Zack Durrant also dished out 48 assists for the Scarlet & Gold.
Both teams came out ready to go right from the start. Neither team was able to create any separation, with things knotted up at 24-24. But a kill by J. Van Huizen and a Cascades block was all that was needed to give UFV the first set.
The second proved to be the outlier of the night. Fraser Valley jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead and never looked back to cruise to the 2-0 advantage.
UFV created a 16-10 edge midway through the third and it looked like it might be a short night inside The Jack. The Dinos showed their fight, however, rattling off a 9-1 run to take the lead and never look back to get back into this one.
Things were once again incredibly tight in the fourth, with neither team able to claim a notable edge. Tied up at 22-all after an epic defensive moment Austin Ellchuk, Calgary found a way and finished things off on a block by Tyler Funk and Jackson Meier to send this one to a fifth set.
Calgary jumped out to a 7-4 lead, only to have Fraser Valley bounce right back and go ahead 8-7. A UFV service error gave the Dinos set point, but the Cascades responded with a triple block by Tyson Ardell, Kastelein and Benne to cap a 3-0 run and win the first game of the weekend series in memorable fashion.
UFV finished the night hitting .386 as a team – including a .600 performance (14-2-20) in the second set – while the Dinos attack hit .270 for the night.
Calgary now drops to 4-3 on the season, with all three losses coming in five sets. Meanwhile, the win is the third in a row for the Cascades, who improve to 4-3 on the young season.
Saturday’s rematch is scheduled for 5 p.m., once again from the Jack Simpson Gym.
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