Ladies untouchable…

By Kris Kotarski

Not even a thousand monkeys chained to a thousand typewriters could have written it any better. The Dinos women’s volleyball team flew to sunny Winnipeg to take on the University of Manitoba Bisons and the two games that ensued were poetry in motion.

Two five-set marathons, both won by the Dinos, were so entertaining fans left the gymnasium in tears, flooding the streets of Winnipeg with salty droplets of joy.

On Fri., Nov. 30, Dinos standout Krista Kinsman went on a killing spree. Her 24 kills in one match is as grotesque a statistic as we’ll ever see in women’s volleyball.

"What we learned this weekend is that Krista Kinsman is playing outside hitter for the rest of the year," said Head Coach Kevin Boyles who until now has juggled lineups with all the proficiency of a Moscow street performer. "She was unstoppable, I don’t think she’ll play much in the middle for the rest of the year."

The Dinos dropped the first set, only to win the next two. The fourth went to a Manitoba and in the fifth, the Bisons led 13-11 only to see Alisa Marriott serve four straight for a 15-13 triumph.

On Saturday, Calgary came out on a high and won the first two sets with ease.

"We came out on fire," said Boyles. "In game three we lost but we played great. Game four was one of the greatest games we’ve ever played."

The Bisons pulled out a 26-24 thriller and for the second night in a row the teams faced the fifth set. The Dinos won again, 18-16, and kept their number one ranking and their perfect record intact.

"We have to realize it’s not always going to be like that," smiled Kinsman after the games. "It’s great we have the confidence to come back but we can’t play five all the time."

Kinsman added 17 kills on Saturday, but she had help all weekend. Captain Amanda Moppett had 14 kills on Friday and middle Jill Friend amazed with 15 of her own. The next night Moppett had 10 kills with 23 digs and Marriott had 13 kills of her own. The Dinos showed balance all across the floor and nowhere was it more evident than with the play of libero Tara Deeks. Deeks had 29 digs on the weekend and her defensive play was crucial in both Dino wins.

"She was outstanding," said Boyles, of his new libero. "She didn’t even give Erin Turner a chance to get on the floor. She earned the right to stay out there."

"I was prepared to play, " said Deeks. "We really wanted to beat them in their gym."

The Dinos finished the first half of their season undefeated and with Manitoba out of the way, coach Boyles sees great things in the future for his squad.

"This team doesn’t need to lose," he said.