CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos men's volleyball team secured their Canada West Quarter-Final spot after sweeping a best-of-three weekend battle against the UFV Cascades, taking Game 2 by a score of 3-1. The final game of the year for the Dinos took place in the Jack Simpson Gym, where Calgary won the first two sets and then held off a feisty comeback effort by UFV, 25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 25-20. With the win, the Dinos advance to the round of eight where they will face second-seeded Alberta, starting Thursday in Edmonton. Dinos player of the game and senior Louis Kunstmann ended his final game at home with a game-high 22 kills to go with six digs, five blocks, and one ace. "Tonight is my final game in the Jack, so definitely an emotional one, but I'm glad we could end on a win," Kunstmann said. "Moving forward and playing Alberta is going to be fun and keeping the battle of Alberta alive. We're pretty hyped about our performance this weekend as we head to Edmonton."
Coming off Thursday night's thrilling five-set win, the Dinos maintained their momentum, starting strong with an early lead of 11-7. Fraser Valley managed to claw back within one at 20-19, but Calgary never relinquished the lead and finished strong, with the set ending at 25-22. The second set saw Calgary come out swinging, with Kunstmann and Erik Godwin giving early leads. UFV made things tight but couldn't overcome the Dinos, who closed it at 25-19. The third set marked the Cascades' moment as Nimo Benne fired three aces, bringing them back to within the match 20-13, closing out the set 25-18. Regardless, the Dinos took command of the fourth and never looked back, eventually winning 25-20.
“I thought we deserved a different outcome yesterday, but today they deserved the win for sure,” said UFV head coach Nathan Bennett. “We weren’t at our best game, but I think we should’ve been playing tomorrow. Congratulations to the Dinos for playing smart.”
Meanwhile, Indiana State University is gearing up for its second home meet of the track and field season as they host the John Gartland Invitational on Saturday. The first field events will commence at noon, followed by running events starting at 1 p.m. Last week at the Tyson Invitational, Will Staggs broke his own pole vault record by clearing 5.56m (18-3), ranking in the top 10 nationally, as Casey Hood Jr. set career-best times in both the 60m and 200m, leading the Sycamores to 11 event wins at the Blue-White Classic.
Under the mentorship of legendary coach John Gartland, who has been at Indiana State for nearly four decades, the team is aiming to carry forward the legacy he established. Gartland, who began as the coach for women’s cross country and track and field, has nurtured numerous champions throughout his time and remains focused on high jumpers. “It's about passing on the rich history of the program,” said Gartland after being named to the MVC track and field All-Centennial Team.
Looking forward to the John Gartland Invitational, the Indiana State men’s shot put group remains one of the top teams, holding the 8th spot nationally. The team has developed five first-place marks this season, hoping to extend their success. Indiana State is coming off strong national rankings and significant athlete accomplishments, making this invite not just about competition, but about honoring the legacy of excellence established at the university.
Meanwhile, the Boston University men's lacrosse team welcomed Air Force to Nickerson Field as they continue their season. They come off impressive plays, finding themselves undefeated at 3-0 owing to their last-minute victory against Brown with eight goals to seven. Freshman Mike Rooney played remarkably, achieving his first collegiate hat trick, leading to very promising stats for the Terriers.
With their strong defense and significant contributions from junior players including dominant performances by Matt Freeman and Connor Kehm, the team is eyeing more victories as they start preparing for their upcoming games. Coach Ryan Polley and the Terrier team have shown formidable prowess on defense, allowing only six goals per game as they ranked high nationally across several categories. The matchup against Air Force is anticipated to be intense, marked by the resilient spirit of both teams.
Boston University looks forward to continuing their successful seasons as they approach important league matchups and aim for the championship title, making their game against Air Force pivotal.
These college athletics events highlight not only significant athletic achievements but also celebrate the camaraderie and passion for sportsmanship across these universities, marking the excitement and dedication present within collegiate sports.