CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos men’s volleyball team closed out the 2024 portion of their schedule in style with a dominant 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-12, 25-16) over the UBC Okanagan Heat on Saturday evening at the Jack Simpson Gym.
With the win, the Dinos improve to 5-5 on the season and head into the holiday break on a high note. Meanwhile, the Heat drop to 6-4 after suffering their first sweep of the season.
Calgary relied on a balanced attack and strong defensive play to secure the sweep, showcasing the team’s growth and consistency as the season progresses.
The opening set saw both teams trading points early, with UBCO’s Zach van Geel setting up key plays to keep the Heat in contention. However, Calgary found their rhythm midway through the set, with standout performances from Louis Kunstmann and Tyler Funk leading the charge for a 6-0 run to take a 16-10 lead. Strong serving by Zack Durrant and timely blocks from Max Penner helped the Dinos pull away late for the 25-21 win.
Calgary turned up the heat in the second set, capitalizing on UBCO errors and delivering a dominant performance. Funk set the tone early from the service line, while the Dinos’ defense stifled the Heat’s attack. Rookie Sam Kay made his presence felt with key kills down the stretch, and Calgary cruised to a commanding 25-12 victory.
The Dinos carried their momentum into the third set, jumping out to an early lead behind strong play from Durrant, who finished the night with an tidy 25 assists in the sweep. The Heat made a late push, with Seba Manuel and Thys Weststrate contributing offensively, but Calgary’s efficiency at the net proved too much. Key defensive plays, including blocks from Kunstmann and Penner, stifled the Heat’s offense. The Dinos sealed the 25-16 win with a crucial block from Penner and Kunstmann, completing the sweep.
Both squads are now off until January. The Dinos return to the court Jan. 10-11 at home against Saskatchewan, while UBCO will start a six-game home stand the same weekend against UBC.
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