Playoff hopes take a hit with loss at Winnipeg

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Wesmen would like you to know they’re not done yet.

And while the mathematics in the moment are far from clear, the fact of the matter is the Wesmen women’s volleyball team remains in a place where it could qualify for the Canada West post-season after a must-have sweep of the Calgary Dinos on the weekend.

The Wesmen closed the home schedule out with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-20) win over the Dinos Saturday night at the Duckworth Centre, a win that elevated their record to 8-14 and lowered the Dinos’ to the same mark. 

Those two weekend victories gave the Wesmen an edge over the Dinos in the conference’s point system where three points are awarded for a three- or four-set win. 

Five teams — Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Thompson Rivers, Calgary and Mount Royal — sit at 8-14 with the Huskies currently holding the eighth and final playoff spot. A sixth team, the UBCO Heat, is at 9-13 as everyone heads into the final weekend of the season. 

The Wesmen head to Regina to take on the Cougars (1-21) Friday and Saturday to close the season. 

On Saturday, Selva Planincic had 12 kills, 12 digs and four aces as the Wesmen hit .243 for the match and held Calgary to .147. Brooke Duncalfe added 11 kills and 10 digs, and Jaya Dzikowicz had 10 and nine. 

Portia Switzer had 39 assists and surpassed the 2,000-assist mark in her career with the Wesmen. She is now third in Wesmen Canada West-era history for assists in a career behind Rylie Dickson and Christa Deroschers. 

Sammi Boag’s eight kills and 12 digs led the Dinos, who finish their season at home against Trinity Western.
 
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