MVB: Dinos headed to semifinals, defeating Cougars in two
Ellery Platts
CALGARY – A five set final sends the Dinos to the semi-finals.
It was neck-n-neck every point seen on Kenyon Court tonight, with the U of C finally taking the game and series 3-2.
The Dinos and the Cougars hit the ground running tonight, with high energy coming off both sides. MRU ready to redeem themselves, Calgary looking to carry the momentum from last night’s victory.
It was tight between both squads for almost the entirety of the first set, staying within a point or two.
Dinos hitter, Louis Kunstmann, took it home for the MRU by sending an attack long and out of bounds, with the Cougars winning the first 25-22.
They quickly made it up, starting the second with a 5-1 lead over Mount Royal. A quick time out solved that quickly, with the Cougars closing the gap and going point for point the rest of the set, down to the last few points.
A hard push from the Dinos came in the form of Kunstmann off a solid attack was denied by Cody Boulding with a massive block. Chris Byamm kept the energy up and threw down the final kill, giving MRU a 2-0 advantage over the dinos in the game. The set ended 25-22.
The third set saw a slow start for both teams, but the highest level of energy seen all weekend. The gym was filled with 850 screaming fans but nothing could shake the nerves of the men on the floor.
Kunstmann took over, hammering seven kills into the Cougars zone and throwing up non-stop blocks to prevent a Cougars offensive run. His work powered the Dinos to a late set three-point lead. The set went to the Dinos, 25-23, with Kunstmann putting down the final point on a back row attack brushing through the hands of MRU.
“It’s been a battle for us,” said CGY player of the game Austin Ellchuk. “We lost here at the beginning but look at us now. We’ve been preparing for this.”
A battle ensued for the fourth, neither team willing to forfeit another set to the other. The plays made on court were nothing short of miracles, with digs caught wrong and repeated pancake saves, every point was a fight to earn.
After trailing the Cougars tied the game at an even 15 before Jackson Meier brought one back to the Dino side, sneaking it through the middle. The Dinos eventually pushed through and took the set, bringing the score 2-2 and forcing a fifth set.
“Look, this is why we have playoff matchups. The Dinos are a good team, Canada West is close from top to bottom,” said MRU assistant coach, Andy Hayher. “They came in here, they played two strong matches, at the end of the night they were the better team on the weekend.”
There was no room for error. The crowd on their feet. The University of Calgary Dinos advance to semifinals after an error from MRU pushes them to a 15-10 set win.
“I’m extremely proud of how we played this season and this weekend as a whole,” said Calgary head coach Rod Durrant. “I’m just really proud.”
Calgary advances to semifinals where they will take on the Trinity Western University Spartens in Trinity’s home arena, the Langley Event Center.
Watch the games live on Canada West TV.