University of Calgary Dinos Prepare for Pivotal Weekend Against Top-Ranked Opponents
The University of Calgary Dinos athletic program is gearing up for an action-packed weekend featuring multiple high-stakes matchups against some of the nation's top-ranked teams. Following recent successes and challenges, several Scarlet & Gold squads will be competing in crucial contests that could significantly impact their playoff positioning.
Men's Volleyball Hosts Nation's Top Team
Fresh off an impressive home sweep against the No. 3 ranked Alberta Golden Bears, the University of Calgary Dinos men's volleyball team (6-8) returns to campus this weekend to face their toughest challenge yet. The Dinos will host the No. 1 ranked UBC Thunderbirds (13-1) in what promises to be an electrifying two-game series at the Jack Simpson Gym.
The action begins Friday at 6 p.m., with Saturday's rematch scheduled for a 5:45 p.m. start time. This weekend's performance could prove critical for the Dinos, who currently sit in eighth place in the highly competitive Canada West conference. The top ten teams in the conference qualify for postseason play, making every match crucial as the regular season approaches its conclusion.
Following this weekend's doubleheader against UBC, the Dinos will enjoy a week off before closing out their regular season with matches at Mount Royal University and a home contest against Thompson Rivers University.
Women's Volleyball Welcomes Second-Ranked Thunderbirds
The University of Calgary women's volleyball team (6-8) will also be hosting the UBC Thunderbirds this weekend at the Jack Simpson Gym. The Dinos will face the No. 2 ranked Thunderbirds on Friday at 7:45 p.m., with Saturday's match scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.
Calgary is coming off a narrow defeat against top-ranked Alberta last weekend, which has positioned them in eighth place in the league standings with just six matches remaining in the regular season. The Thunderbirds (11-3) enter the weekend with momentum from a dominant home sweep of MacEwan University, where they limited their opponents to 16 or fewer points in five of seven sets.
Women's Basketball Faces Undefeated Saskatchewan
The seventh-ranked University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball team (12-2) will travel to Saskatoon for a heavyweight battle against the No. 1 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies. Friday's contest is set to tip off at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, with Saturday's action beginning at 4 p.m.
The Dinos are coming off a bounce-back weekend where they swept MacEwan University. In Saturday's victory, Calgary's defense was particularly impressive, holding the Griffins to just 21 points—the fewest allowed by a Dinos team in a regular-season game in over fifty years—while scoring 75 points of their own.
Fifth-year guard Amelie Collin continues to make history, recently breaking the Dinos' career steals record earlier this season. With 291 steals and six games remaining on the schedule, Collin now sits in second place in Canada West conference history, just 17 steals shy of Ashley Wigg's record of 308 set with Alberta from 2004 to 2009.
The Saskatchewan Huskies enter the weekend with a perfect 14-0 record, making this matchup particularly challenging for the visiting Dinos.
Men's Basketball Takes on Surging Huskies
The University of Calgary men's basketball team (8-6) will also be on the road this weekend, facing the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday at 7 p.m. Mountain Time and Saturday at 6 p.m. The Dinos currently sit fourth in the Prairie Division with six games remaining in their regular season schedule.
Calgary split their recent series at MacEwan University, with several players delivering standout performances. Dre Francis recorded an impressive double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds in Friday's 93-84 loss, while rookie Mrigendra Dhaliwal led the team with 20 points in Saturday's 80-69 victory. This marked Dhaliwal's fourth game with at least 20 points this season.
The Saskatchewan Huskies (5-9) have found their rhythm recently, entering the weekend on a three-game winning streak that could pose challenges for the visiting Dinos.
Track & Field Hosts Annual Dinos Classic
Following an impressive showing in Edmonton, the University of Calgary track and field team will host the annual Dinos Classic this Sunday at the Jack Simpson Gym. The first race is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., providing local fans with an opportunity to support the Scarlet & Gold athletes in their home facility.
This weekend represents a particularly busy period for University of Calgary athletics, with multiple teams competing in high-profile matchups that could significantly impact their postseason aspirations. Beyond the highlighted sports, Dinos swimming and rugby 7s teams will also be in action, contributing to what promises to be an exciting weekend for Scarlet & Gold supporters across Calgary and beyond.
