CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos pushed the game to five sets but were outlasted by the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday night at the Jack Simpson Gym.
Winning 3-2 (25-22, 18-25, 21-25, 27-25, 5-15), UBC improves their record to 16-4 and keeps pace with a number of teams at the top of the conference standings riding extended win streaks.
Calgary remains in the seventh spot with an 11-9 record in conference play.
“There are definitely positives to pull from tonight, we made considerable adjustments to things we discussed in our meetings. We want to maintain our fight regardless of our circumstances and we find success in our execution and in how we play but we know we need to put some wins on the scoreboard if we want our season to extend,” said Calgary bench boss Christine Biggs following the game. “We’re looking to move ahead and put ourselves in a playoff position. Anything can happen”
Neither team got into an offensive groove during the opening set, but it was the Dinos who picked up the win with some key service aces.
The Thunderbirds came back hungry in the next two sets. UBC pulled away mid-way through the second set and carried that momentum into the third where they took an early lead and carried it the entire way. The ‘Birds took advantage of their opportunities with 28 kills over sets two and three.
Calgary found themselves down early again in the fourth set but a series of small runs brought the score level late at 21-21. The teams went back and forth before Sophie Reed closed out the set.
The Dinos middles took tall to send the game to a fifth set with five blocks in the fourth. Mya Sheridan and Sheridan Coninx made 14 collectively throughout the evening.
The visitors seized control of the final set with a commanding 10-1 run. Cara Kovacs of the Thunderbirds showed her strength and took the final swing of the night to secure the win.
Akash Grewal came off the bench to lead the way for the Thunderbirds at the night with a team-high 15 kills on the night to go with 13 digs.
Reed finished with 11 kills and 18 digs to lead the way for the Dinos.
The Dinos will travel to Saskatoon for their last away game of the regular season to face off against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies next weekend.
The Thunderbirds will welcome the University of Winnipeg Wesmen for their last home game of the season at the War Memorial Gymnasium in Vancouver.