CALGARY - The University of Calgary Dinos picked up a much-needed win when they took down the Regina Cougars 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-13, 25-17) on Nov. 14 at Jack Simpson Gymnasium.
Calgary improves to 4-7 while the Cougars drop to 1-8 on the season.
Outside hitter Keith West once again led the Dinos in kills with a game-high 14. Braden O'Toole also had a good night for Calgary, scoring 12 kills and recording 11 digs. Connor Frehlich also hit double digits with 11 kills. Setter Alex Cook recorded 41 assists in the win.
For Regina, Steve Carston led the way with 12 kills. Libero Jacques Borgeaud added 10 digs and setter Dalton Wolfe added 32 assists. Noah Miller recorded nine more kills for the Cougars.
Battling in the first, both teams were feeling out the competition and the set was tied at 13 all. The Dinos were able to take a two-point lead at 16-14 thanks to a blcok from Sean Tuff. Calgary's two-point lead held up throughout the second half of the set, forcing Regina to call a timeout when they pushed it to three at 21-18. Offence for the Dinos was spread out evenly keeping the Cougars guessing. A late push from Regina got them within one at 24-23, but Calgary pulled it off, winning it 25-23.
The Dinos got off to a good start in the second, going up 4-1 early, but Regina tied it in no time at eight. The score remained tied at 15 with the Dinos making a few errors and Regina taking advantage. West and O'Toole both had a team-high six kills at the technical timeout. Tied once again at 20, the Cougars went on an outstanding 5-0 run to finish the set and tie the match up at one.
The third set wasn't much of a contest as the Dinos dominated. Frehlich was on fire for Calgary as they took a ten point lead at the technical timeout. The Cougars barely reached ten points in the set, with the Dinos taking charge in all facets of the set. They won it 25-13 and took the match lead at 2-1.
Calgary looked to be continuing it's dominance from the previous set when they entered the fourth. They were picking up everything and Regina had no answers. But their seven-point lead slowly dissipated as the Cougars began to creep back into the match. After the technical, where the Dinos lead 16-13, Regina got within one, forcing the Dinos to play some of their best ball to hold down their lead. Calgary regained the lead with some unbelievable defence. With that momentum, the Dinos solidified the much needed win by a score of 25-17.
Calgary and Regina will face off again tomorrow night at 6:30pm at Jack Simpson Gymnasium.