Olivia Krol; Dinos Communications

CALGARY – The University of Calgary women's volleyball team (4-0) tallied another win with a sweep of the University of Manitoba (1-3) on Saturday afternoon at Jack Simpson Gymnasium.
The Dinos took the contest 25-21, 25-21, 25-14, outhitting the Bisons .186 to .070. With the win, Calgary hangs onto its first-place position in Canada West.

The Bisons got off to a quick start in the opening set, as they led 4-1, then 7-3. The Dinos tied up at 7-7 and managed to outmaneuver the opponent, taking the set 25-23. Jaylynn Moffatt and Kate Pexman accumulated several back-to-back points, with Moffatt leading the way with 6 kills, and Pexman totaling 3. Laura McManes also managed 4 points, and it was a kill by her that ultimately clinched the set.

The Dinos led for all of the second set with a heavily dominating performance, doubling in points over the University of Manitoba mid-way into play. A Bisons attack error allowed Calgary to grab a 12-6 advantage, after which the team progressed to 19-9 following a kill off McManes. Manitoba fought back however, and managed to pull within three at both 23-20 and 24-21. A kill by Rachel Solecki decided the set, with Calgary succeeding 12 kills, and a .045 throughout.

Calgary got out to a 6-1 lead in the third set, and continued to roll as a service ace from Beth Vinnell and a kill by Solecki put the Dinos ahead, 19-10. The Dinos only allowed Manitoba to score four times after, and it was an attack error by Tori Studler of the Bisons that clinched both the set and the match, 25 -14.

For the game, McManes led the way with 13 kills, while Pexman finished with eight kills and only three errors, hitting .227.

Moffatt also had eight kills and boasted one dig, while Rachel Solecki finished with three kills and four digs, hitting .286.

As a team, the University of Calgary totaled 39 kills and hit .186 compared to 29 and .070 by Manitoba. The Dinos finished with 54 digs and accumulated 60.0 points.

With tonight's win, Calgary currently boasts a four-game winning streak, to the delight of Head Coach Natalie Gurnsey

"I have a lot of confidence in our team," she said. "Even before those four wins, I was confident, so to me the success thus far is just a reflection of what the girls can attain. We have a lot of amazing players on our team – Laura McManes was staller tonight. Serving, blocking, and offensively, she was just rock solid."

Calgary will next face the UBC Thunderbirds on the road, Nov. 3-4 at War Memorial Gym in Vancouver. The Bisons are going onto a bye week, but will return to play Nov.10, to face the University of Alberta Pandas.

-UC-

Photo by David Moll