Dinos begin playoffs in Winnipeg

CALGARY – Looking to build off its four-game win streak, the University of Calgary Dinos men’s volleyball team kicks off postseason play with three games in three days in Winnipeg, starting Thursday.

Calgary will take on UBC Okanagan, Manitoba and host Winnipeg, with all three games taking place on the Winnipeg campus inside the Duckworth Centre. All three games are scheduled to be streamed live on Canada West TV, presented by Co-op.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW
The Dinos started and finished the season with four-game win streaks and finished 13-5 in Canada West play this season – good for second in the Central Division. That placed them in the “Pool C” in this year’s playoff format, heading to Winnipeg where the East Division champ Wesmen will host the Dinos, as well as UBC Okanagan and Manitoba.

REGULAR-SEASON REWIND
Despite dealing with the oddities that were the 2021-22 season schedule, the Dinos certainly adapted well and have gotten hot down the stretch. After getting off to a 6-4 start, the Scarlett and Gold have dropped just one game since and are on a four-game win streak – including a sweep of then-second-ranked Alberta – entering postseason play.

While Calgary is a well-balanced squad, they are undoubtedly led by senior Hamish Hazelden. The Australian product ranks third in all of Canada this season with 268 total kills on the year. The Dinos’ defence at the net has also been a huge part of the team’s success, as they rank No. 1 in U SPORTS in total blocks (193) and blocks/set (2.92). A big part of that net success has been the play of third-year Lincoln Baines, who ranks tops in the country with 1.52 blocks/set.

SCOUTING REPORT
UBC OKANAGAN | Thursday, 6:45 p.m. MT | Winnipeg, Man.

• The Heat finished the season .500 at 8-8. That was good for third place in the CW West Division.
• The highlight of the season undoubtedly came last weekend when UBCO knocked off previously unbeaten and No. 1 in the nation Trinity Western in straight sets at home
• Calgary has a 14-4 mark all-time against UBCO since they joined Canada West. The last time the two squads squared off came in a pair of home games for the Dinos back in mid-February 2020, with the two teams splitting the series.

MANITOBA | Friday, 6:45 p.m. MT | Winnipeg, Man.

• The Bisons turned in a 7-11 mark during conference play this season, placing them fourth in the East Division.
• It was a tough finish to the season for Manitoba. After starting the year 5-4, they struggled late, going 2-7 – including a pair of road sweeps by Brandon – to close things out.
• The Dinos and Bisons have plenty of history over the years. The two teams have split the regular-season series each of the last two years, with Calgary dropping a 3-2 decision before posting a sweep one day later last season in Winnipeg.

WINNIPEG | Saturday, 5 p.m. MT | Winnipeg, Man.

• The Wesmen earned the top spot in the CW East Division after compiling an 11-7 overall record this season.
• Fifth-year Daniel Thiessen leads all of Canada with 305 kills on the season and ranks second in the nation with 4.55 kills/set. Teammate Darian Picklyk also ranks tops in the nation, as the libero and reigning Canada West Player of the Week is averaging 3.12 digs/set on the year.
• The Dinos have won 20 of the last 26 conference matches against Winnipeg, including sweeping the Wesmen each of the past two regular seasons.

UP NEXT
The top two teams from each of the three opening-round pools will advance in this year’s playoffs to the second week of pool play, hosted by two of the three opening-round pool winners.