EDMONTON – There have been some big wins in the David Atkinson Gym over the years.
Given the context, Saturday’s was one of the most memorable.
Amid the backdrop of Senior Night and the storyline of a team with 15 rookies trying to halt a 17-game losing streak, the MacEwan Griffins knocked off the Calgary Dinos 3-2 (21-25, 25-19, 28-26, 17-25, 15-11) in Canada West women’s volleyball action.
All of their emotions poured out in a wild celebration on the court after Mariah Bereziuk’s kill ended the fifth-and-deciding set 15-11 in favour of MacEwan.
MacEwan will finish the season 1-17 and out of the playoffs, but at least they ended on a high note, winning it for the serve-receive specialist, who was emotional in the aftermath.
Thomas finished with 10 digs in her final game as a Griffin, while Bereziuk led MacEwan with a match-high 14 kills, adding six digs and two blocks.
Calgary was led by Kenzie Vaandering, who had 10 kills a night after roasting the Griffins for 17 one night earlier.
After the Dinos took the opening set, the Griffins began to get things together, controlling much of set two.
Alyshia Bryks came off the bench and rained down thundering kills, including one from the left side that ended an epic rally to put the Griffins up 23-18 and another to end the set 25-19.
Calgary controlled the early-goings of set three, but the Griffins twice fought back from 5-0 runs against and pulled ahead at 22-21 before coming up with the decisive point at 28-26 when Calgary tipped one wide of the court.
The Dinos wouldn’t make the same mistake in set four, racing out to a 16-9 lead at the technical timeout and never allowing MacEwan to gain life, finishing it off when Amelia Anderson went over the net chasing an overbump.
So, that set up a nail-biting fifth set that went back and forth until the late points as MacEwan broke open a 10-10 tie with a 5-1 run, ending it when Bereziuk’s kill went off hands and out.
And the celebration began, including a large crowd filled with parents and supporters.
Calgary will finish the campaign 5-13 after the defeat and head into the playoffs March 4-6 as the third seed in the Central Division. They are off to Langley, B.C. for Pool A play hosted by West Division champ Trinity Western.
For the Griffins, they get to go into the off-season on a high, which is very important for a young team that was using this season to grow for the future.