CALGARY – The first game of quarterfinals lived up to its billing as a highly anticipated Crowchild Classic match-up; the Mount Royal Cougars versus the University of Calgary Dinos.
Calgary came into the night seeded seventh against the second-seeded Cougars and caused an upset in Kenyon Court as the Dinos were unstoppable from start to finish in taking the game in three straight sets, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23.
“I think we played great, we played with some confidence,” said Dinos head coach Rod Durrant. “They’re a very good team and we know that. I am very pleased, all three sets were within two points. I am very pleased with that.”
What seemed like a promising first-set victory for Mount Royal quickly had a change of tone with a quick three-point run by the Dinos and brought the score to an even 18.It stayed tight through the final few points in the set, with Calgary final taking it after Louis Kunstmann hammered a kill down just inside of the Cougars zone.
“Good timing on our end to bring the best game of the season for the first game of playoffs,” said Kunstmann, Calgary’s player of the game. The second-year middle was dynamite all night, finishing the night with 15 kills, four digs and three blocks and an incredible .632 attack percentage.
The Cougars were unable to settle and control their nerves early in the second set, allowing the Dinos to create an early lead, continuing their momentum off the first set win. Max Haronga brought some life back to the home squad, almost floating across the court for a back row kill. Calgary maintained their lead for the entirety of the second, but Mount Royal fought their way back to within one at set point before Kunstmann finished off the set once again.
The Cougars came alive early in the third, knowing they needed this set to stay alive. But for every lead MRU put up, the Dinos were quick to close the gap with aggressive kills and tight defence. Calgary overtook the lead at 17-16 before Haronga tied it back up with a powerful kill slipping just out of reach of the Dinos defence.
With another tight finish brewing, Erik Godwin smashed one past a MRU triple block and found the back right corner of the Cougars zone. Calgary carried the momentum to the end of the third, taking the set 25-23 and the game in three straight.
Godwin finished the night with 10 kills, while teammate Liam Kuppe also finished in double figures with 14 kills and a .478 hitting percentage. Zack Durrant dished out 33 assists on the night to go with seven digs, while Jakson Meier added five kills on just five swings for a perfect performance at the net.
Chris Byam led the attack for the Cougars on the night with 15 kills. Haronga added 11 and Jacob Van Geel another 10.
The Cougars and Dinos will play again Saturday night for their second game of the best-of-three quarter-final series, with a 7 p.m. start in Kenyon Court. Catch the game live on Canada West TV.