MVB: Cougars drop first game of the series to Dinos

Box Score MVB: CGY (3) at MRU ()

The first game of quarterfinals was nothing short of exciting with a highly anticipated Crowchild Classic match-up; the Mount Royal Cougars versus the University of Calgary Dinos. 

Calgary came into the night ranked seventh against the number two Cougars, and caused an upset in Kenyon Court. The Dinos were unstoppable, taking the game in three straight sets. 

“I think we played great, we played with some confidence,” said U of C 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 four point run by the Dinos brought the score to an even 18. 

It stayed tight through the final few points in the set, with Calgary final taking it 25-23 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 tonight, sitting with a 77 percent attack average with only two sets played, and finishing the night with 15 kills, four digs and three blocks. 

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 squad, almost floating across the court for a back row kill. Luis Lange kept the energy high with a massive kill to keep service on the Cougars side.

Calgary maintained their lead for the majority of the second, but Mount Royal fought their way back to within one at set point before Kunstmann took home the set once again, 25-23. 

Chris Byam, Haronga and Jacob Van Geel weren’t far behind with 8, 8 and 9 kills respectively. 

“I think we came out with too much relaxation and we didn’t have our heads in the game,” said Haronga. Haronga was named MRU player of the game with 11 kills by the end of the night along with four digs and two blocks against the Dinos. 

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 17-16 before Haronga tied it back up with a powerful kill slipping just out of reach of the Dinos defence. 

Erik Godwin smashed one past a MRU triple block and found the back right corner of the Cougars zone. They carried the momentum to the end of the third, taking the set 25-23 and the game in three straight. 

The Cougars and Dinos will play again tomorrow night for their second game of the quarter-final series, with a 7 p.m. start in Kenyon Court. Catch the game live on Canada West TV.