EDMONTON – Providing a game packed with monster blocks and hard-hitting kills, the Alberta Bears ended the Calgary Dinos season in straight sets, 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-17), Friday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
The win secures a spot in the Canada West Final Four for the reigning Canada West Champion Golden Bears, who will head to Winnipeg next weekend. Meanwhile, the Dinos see their season come to a close.
Helping his side sail to victory, Isaac Heslinga put down nine kills, adding five aces, with Luke Weddell setting the Bears up with 31 assists.
“”I thought we played a really clean series. We were working this week on diversifying our offence, and I thought that was pretty evident in our play,” said Heslinga, who was named a first team all-star this week. “Our defence yesterday was really good, and our serving today was awesome. Different areas of our games shined this weekend.”
Across the net, fourth-year German, Louis Kunstmann led the Dinos with nine kills as Tyler Funk added an additional five kills to the score sheet.
“I think the guys showed effort,” said Dinos head coach Graham Vigrass. “But at this stage effort is not the difference maker. They were a lot more crisp, a lot more aggressive in serve and they gained momentum throughout the match and we slowed down.”
A tug-a-war opening set had the crowd questioning when and who would take control. As expected it was Heslinga with four-straight aces to bring the Bears ahead 19-14, clearing the Bears path to an opening set win.
As the game got longer, the kills got stronger as the Bears put 13 kills on the scoresheet shared among six players and went up to sets to none, 25-16.
Needing to stay alive, the Dinos started the final set with a huge block and forcing mistakes from the reigning national champions to go ahead, 7-3, forcing a Bears timeout.
After a quick run, a block from Alberta middle Trent Cherewaty brought the busy gym to their feet in euphoric celebration, evening the score. After another temporary power struggle the homeside would once again come out on top with a set tricking the gym and being put over the net courtesy of Weddel, taking the set and match to advance.
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