The University of Calgary Dinos women's volleyball team traded in four bronze medals for a silver medal at this year's Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

The Dinos lost to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 29-27, 20-25, 15-9) in the gold medal match on Saturday.

In the CIS quarterfinal last Thursday, the Dinos defeated the university of York Lions 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-21).

The University of Calgary women's volleyball team moved one step closer to the Canadian Interuniversity Sports championships with the defeat of the University of Regina Cougars at the Jack Simpson on Feb. 13-15, and a bronze medal win at the Canada West Final Four in Edmonton from Feb. 20-22.

They defeated the Cougars 2-0 in the best-of-three series, with scores of (25-15, 17-25, 25-14, 28-26) in the first match and (25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 25-20) in the second match.

With high expectations the Dinos men's volleyball team took to the court on Feb. 13 looking to advance to the Canada West final four and the CIS championships. Coming into the post-season with the strongest record any of the current players had seen, and with the added boon of home-court advantage, the Dinos hit the Jack Simpson Gym with the determination to fight to the finish.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Will you have the same job, friends, lifestyle? Chances are you won't. That is why the longevity of senior trio Holly Harper, Julie Young and Lauren Perry is to be admired.

The veteran Dinos women's volleyball stars took their final regular season game in stride at the Jack Simpson Gym on Saturday and did so with their trademark dominating style, beating the Simon Fraser University Clan in just over an hour (25-9, 25-18, 25-13).

Determined to stamp their season of growth and improvement with an emphatic exclamation mark, the men's volleyball team stormed the Jack Simpson Gym this weekend and dismantled the Thompson Rivers WolfPack with sweeps both Friday (25-19, 25-15, 25-22) and Saturday (25-22, 25-14, 25-23).

This ensured second-place in the Canada West conference and the privilege of home court advantage for a post-season series.

With three weekends of play left before the post-season, the University of Calgary men's volleyball team entered the Jack Simpson gym last Friday and Saturday with the mandate of maintaining second-place in the Canada West conference.

Despite the intimidating task of taking on the then third-place University of Winnipeg Wesmen, the Dinos overcame bouts of distracted play and miscommunication to achieve a weekend sweep, winning 3-1 on both Friday (22-25, 35-33, 25-21, 25-16) and Saturday (25-22, 14-25, 28-26, 25-14).

It was win–win for the University of Calgary men's volleyball team last weekend as the Dinos swept the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, effectively protecting their spot as the second–place team in the Canada West conference.

Showing a growth in confidence both defensively and offensively, the Dinos managed to overcome their nerves and put a decisive stamp of victory on both matches, winning 3–2 on Jan. 10 (27-25, 21-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-9) and 3–1 on Jan. 11 (25-23, 25-27, 25-20, 25-23).

The University of Calgary Dinos men's volleyball team was shutout in two straight games against the University of Alberta Golden Bears last weekend.

Despite the 0-3 loss on Friday (22-25, 28-30, 22-25) followed by a similar 0-3 shutout Saturday (21-25, 20-25, 15-25) the Dinos are optimistic future battles against the top team in the Canada West standings won't be so one-sided.

Sarah Lacny knows that when an opportunity comes along you take it.

The setter for the University of Calgary Dinos women's volleyball team is flourishing in her second year with the team, as an injury sustained by Kathyrn Moncks has given Lacny the chance to prove herself as a starter.

"Sarah's doing phenomenal," said first-year Dinos head coach Jesse Knight. "I think the fun thing about Sarah is she has a lot of room to grow too and so she's shown leadership early."

Jesse Knight is used to a culture of winning. Perhaps that is why his transition was seamless when he was named head coach of the University of Calgary women's volleyball team for the 2008-09 season.

"I came to a program that is very healthy," he said. "I'm really excited to be a part of this."

Knight's enthusiasm is warranted as his team has a 3-1 record to start the season, continuing the winning tradition of his predecessor Kevin Boyles, who was named interim Athletic Director in January.