MVB: Inspired Wesmen rally for epic five-set win over Dinos

WINNIPEG — Fighting for their season, the Winnipeg Wesmen found their most inspired effort yet.

Daniel Thiessen had 27 kills and 11 digs and the Wesmen men’s volleyball team downed the Calgary Dinos 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 18-25, 26-24, 15-10) in Pool C action of the Canada West post-season tournament Saturday night at the Duckworth Centre.

The Dinos were handed their first loss of the weekend as both teams moved to 2-1 with the scenarios for advancing still very murky.

With the win, the Wesmen, playing their third five-setter in as many nights, officially eliminated the Manitoba Bisons, who were needing a Calgary win and a win of their own to keep thin hopes alive.

Freshman Jaxon Rose had 11 kills for the Wesmen, who hit .192 for the night including .348 in both the fourth and fifth sets.

Back-up fifth-year setter Michael Corrigan, who transferred from Regina to play his final season in his hometown, had a season-high 17 digs coming on in relief at the start of Set 2.

Winnipeg overcame a 3-0 deficit in the fifth by winning seven of the next nine points to lead 7-5. Thiessen, who set the Wesmen program record a night earlier for kills in a playoff match with 33, had eight kills in the fourth set alone.

Calgary was led by Hamish Hazelden’s 24 kills and Erik Godwin had 10. Calgary hit .304 for the night but was held to .100 in the fifth when the Dinos had five kills with three errors on 20 swings.

Austin Ellchuk had a team-high 14 digs for Calgary.