Box Score CALGARY - It wasn't exactly how the Bobcats men's volleyball team would have liked to get into the playoffs, but they'll certainly take it. The 'Cats were swept in straight sets 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-20) by the host University of Calgary Dinos in Saturday night's final match of the 2013-14 Canada West regular season for both teams.

The loss dropped Brandon's record to 10-12, tying them with Manitoba and Mount Royal for the seventh and final playoff spot.

According to the tie-breaker, the Bobcats are into the playoffs, edging Manitoba and Mount Royal in sets won vs. sets lost. The Bobcats won 49 sets and lost 49 sets on the season, giving them a win/loss ratio of 1.0. Manitoba's win/loss ratio is 0.82, while Mount Royal's is 0.72.

The Bobcats picked up their first road win of the season Friday night, and a win Saturday would have guaranteed a playoff spot.

Saturday's start was all Calgary however, as the Dinos Calgary led wire-to-wire in the opening set with a block and corresponding fist pump by Connor Frehlich wrapping it up 25-21 for the home side.

The second set was far closer, with 12 tie scores in the frame. The Bobcats led as late as 19-16 in the set, but Calgary put up four points in a row, then scored the last three straight with a Mann kill wrapping it up 25-22 for the Dinos.

The third was close early, but in the high single digits the Dinos began to pull away and never looked back. Brandon managed to get within two points at 19-17, but Calgary poured it on late and took it 25-20 to book their ticket to Edmonton.

Mann finished the night with 14 kills, followed by Tuff's nine while Visser and Frehlich added seven each. Setter Jackson Maris had 34 assists for the Dinos, but he got in on the block party in a big way as well with a pair of solos along with four helpers. Mann was the match's leader with 11 digs, while Visser added eight more.

Though Brandon finished with more kills (47) than the Dinos (42), the Bobcats' hitting percentage was considerably lower at just under 24 per cent compared to better than 36 for Calgary. The visitors committed 21 errors against just nine for the Dinos. Sebastien Steigmeier led the match with 19 kills on 41 swings on the night, while Sam Tuivai's 13 represented the only other Bobcat in double digits.

The Bobcats now prepare to head to Vancouver for a best of three series against the UBC Thunderbirds in Canada West quarterfinal series. The winner of that moves on to Canada West Final Four at Trinity Western University.

The 2014 CIS Men's Volleyball Championship runs Feb. 27-March 1 in the Jack Simpson Gym.