LANGLEY, B.C. – With a ticket to nationals on the line the Calgary Dinos exacted a measure of revenge over the Brandon Bobcats Saturday afternoon at the Langley Events Centre with a 3-0 (25-16, 30-28, 25-23) win.
 
The Bobcats ended the Dinos season two years ago in Brandon just before Covid-19 shut all sports down, and Calgary will now come back to Manitoba for the chance to compete in U SPORTS nationals next weekend.
 
The first set was all Calgary as first team Canada West all-star Hamish Hazelden had a great start.
 
Hazelden also went to work early in the second set, reaching double figures in kills early in the frame. João Cunha answered with a massive kill followed by a massive block that fired up the Bobcats and provided enough of a lead to even the match, but not without an interesting sidebar.
 
With the Bobcats taking the lead at 26-25 there was an issue with the score, prompting a 13-minute delay as the officials, score table staff and conference staff worked together to sort out the issue.
 
Once resumed, after a few errors on both sides, the Dinos took the set on a Brandon attack error for a 2-0 match lead.
 
The third set saw the two teams trade points and the largest lead being just three points for the Dinos, but it was enough as Calgary held off the surging Bobcats to book a ticket to nationals.
 
Hazelden had a match-high 16 kills to go with six digs and three blocks. Lincoln Baines put up 10 kills on 16 swings and six blocks.
 
The Bobcats were led by Cunha's team-high 10 kills while Paycen Warkentin put up eight kills.
 
Senior setter Jake Fleming finished with 29 assists and 10 digs.
 
The loss ends the Bobcats season while the Dinos now wait to see the seedings at U SPORTS nationals, hosted by the University of Manitoba March 25-27.