CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women’s volleyball team secured a hard-fought 3-1 (25-21, 16-25, 25-23, 25-21) victory over the Trinity Western Spartans in an intense matchup Saturday night at Jack Simpson Gym.
The win is a big one for the Dinos, as they move to 4-12 and keep their postseason chances alive. Meanwhile, TWU drops to 6-10 after the weekend split.
The Dinos came out firing, scoring the first point of the match. Calgary’s offensive rhythm was led by Sophia Hansen, who contributed five of the team’s first 14 points. In a tightly contested opening set, the Dinos maintained composure, and Daisy Olsen sealed the frame with a kill. Calgary finished the set with a solid .278 hitting percentage.
Trinity Western responded with authority in the second set, jumping out to a commanding 9-3 lead and extending it to 13-5. Anya Fehr was strong at the net, orchestrating the Dinos’ offence, while Hansen delivered a crucial kill to break the Spartans’ rotation. However, Trinity Western maintained control, leveling the match to one set apiece.
The Dinos came roaring back in the third, racing to an 11-2 lead that left the Spartans scrambling. Strong hands from Sam Silva at the net and quality first contacts allowed Calgary to maintain control. Miranda Baines was relentless on defence, tallying a career-high 15 digs to keep the play alive. Trinity Western fought back with Kaylee Plouffe’s strong serving, cutting the deficit to 17-13. Despite being out-killed 17-11 in the set, the Dinos capitalized on key moments, with Olsen’s clutch play pushing Calgary to a 20-14 edge before closing out the set.
The Spartans flipped the momentum in the fourth set, taking a 15-9 lead. But the Dinos refused to back down. A service ace from Narelle Arnold reignited Calgary’s confidence, and three consecutive points tied the set at 16-16. Hansen continued her dominant night, reaching a career-high 16 kills. With the score tied at 20-20, the Dinos executed under pressure, sealing the victory with a dramatic ace from Baines.
Despite facing deficits throughout the match, the Dinos found their rhythm when it mattered most, leading them to a 3-1 victory. Hansen finished the game with a career-best 16 kills, while Olsen and Baines contributed 12 kills each. Trinity Western’s Maryn Bolden led all players with 17 kills.
“We all have a personal drive to be the best we can, and we push each other to reach that level,” Baines said postgame. “I’m stoked that I got to do what I love and have fun tonight.”
The Dinos hit the road next weekend to take on the Brandon Bobcats in Manitoba, starting Friday.
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