Game Recap
Women’s Volleyball (Dino Cup – Day 2)
Friday, October 20, 2006
TWU Spartans (2) vs the University of Calgary Dinos (3)
(15-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-20, 15-10)
DINOS DIG DEEP TO BEAT SPARTANS; ALBERTA AND MANITOBA TO MEET IN HUSKY DINO CUP FINAL
CALGARY – The Calgary Dinos gave a boisterous crowd in the Jack Simpson Gym something to cheer about Friday, coming from behind to defeat the Trinity Western Spartans 3-2 (15-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-20, 15-10) in Husky Dino Cup round robin action.
“We came here to improve each time out and get our game speed and our timing down,” said TWU Head Coach Ryan Hofer. “We are testing the waters with different line-ups in each set to see what works. We are starting to communicate better, we are clicking well and we are playing with intensity. I have no doubt that we will once again improve on our performance in tomorrows match with Calgary.”
The Spartans opened with a decisive victory in the first set, jumping out to a 9-1 lead early en route to a 25-15 win. Senior Jodi Schaufele (5th, Delta, B.C.) scored four key kills in the set for Trinity Western and sealed the set with a service ace. The win marked the first time the Trinity Western women have won a set over the Dinos in the Jack Simpson Gym, dating back to TWU’s entry into Canada West in the late 1990s.
Calgary opened an early lead in the second, but the Spartans quickly tied the match up. With TWU leading 9-8, Lauren Perry (3rd, Taber, AB) stepped back to serve for Calgary and rattled of seven straight points to give the Dinos a 15-9 lead. Dayna Jansen Van Doorn (3rd, Langley, B.C.) scored with back-to-back kills for the Spartans to inch them back within four points late in the set, but the Spartans suffered some lapses in defensive play and another serve from Schaufele ended the set – this time into the net – as the Dinos took it 25-19.
Trinity Western roared back in the third, taking a 16-6 lead at the second technical break. Jansen Van Doorn was again sensational, scoring her 12th and 13th kills of the evening late in the match as the Spartans cruised to another 25-15 win. The national team player ended with a match-high 16 kills on the evening. “Dayna had a big blocking night for us,” said Hofer.
The Spartans came into the fourth set determined to take the match, maintaining a three-point lead through the second technical time out. Calgary rallied, urged on by a crowd of more than 1000, to tie the match at 16, and the Dinos would never look back. Raynell Lavertu (2nd, Calgary) scored the winning point for Calgary as she wiped a kill off the Spartan block, sending the match to a deciding fifth set.
The Dinos were not to be denied on their home court this night, racing to an 8-2 lead as the teams switched sides. The Spartans rallied to make the score 9-7, but key kills from Willemina Stikker-Breemhaar (4th, Lacombe, AB) and Joanna Niemczewska (5th, Calgary) helped Calgary regain the five-point margin. In the end, an attack by the Spartans went wide, giving the Dinos a 15-10 win and the 3-2 match victory.
Niemczewska led Calgary with 15 kills, followed by Lavertu’s nine. Middle Deanna Delisle (4th, Holbein, SK) earned eight block assists for the Dinos, one better than Niemczewska’s seven. Alicia Van Huisen (4th, Surrey, BC) chipped in nine kills for Trinity Western in a losing cause.
Earlier in the day the Spartans fell to the University of Alberta 3-2 (20-25, 26-28, 25-21, 25-20, 16-14).
The win improved the Dinos’ tournament record to 2-1, putting them in a three-way tie with Manitoba and Alberta for first place. Alberta took care of the Bisons 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22) in the other women’s match Friday night, prompting the three-way tie. Canada West tiebreaking rules go to sets won and lost between the tied teams, therefore Alberta and Manitoba claim the top two spots in the tournament and will play for the championship Saturday night. Calgary, who lost the tiebreaker because of a five-set win over Alberta Thursday night, will play Trinity Western (0-3) again for the bronze medal at 1:00 pm Saturday afternoon. All matches will be played in the Jack Simpson Gym.
-UC-
2006 Husky Dino Cup – Tournament Draw (Women)
Thursday, October 19
Calgary 3 Alberta 2 (25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 25-27, 15-9)
Manitoba 3 TWU 0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-22)
Friday, October 20
Manitoba 3 Calgary 1 (15-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-14)
Alberta 3 TWU 2 (20-25, 26-28, 25-21, 25-20, 16-14)
Calgary 3 TWU 2 (15-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-20, 15-10)
Alberta 3 Manitoba 1 (25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22)
Saturday, October 21
1:00 pm Bronze Medal Match: Calgary (2-1) vs. Trinity Western (0-3)
6:00 pm Gold Medal Match: Manitoba (2-1) vs. Alberta (2-1)
