Both Mount Royal University Cougars and University of Dinos Men's Volleyball Teams line up for their player introductions before the starts of their game at Kenyon Court on February 21, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
The Mount Royal University (MRU) Cougars played host in the playoff play-in round this weekend against the University of Calgary (U of C) Dinos.
Kenyon Court at MRU saw three incredible matches; the first two were split, setting up a do-or-die third match Saturday night.
This Crowchild Classic showdown lived up to the hype, as Saturday night proved to be a spirited affair.
SET 1
Cougars No. 8 Middle Cody Hudson got the party started with a massive spike which set the tone for the first set.
The Cougars would not look back and jumped out to an early first set lead.
Cougars No. 2 Outside Hitter Kale Orr would get a huge block, Orr’s subsequent serve caused confusion falling for an ace and the Dinos would call a timeout to stop the bleeding down 8-4.
The Cougars kept the pressure on and stretched their lead to 10-5, but the Dinos would weather the early storm and settle in.
After the momentum turned in favour of the Dinos, they capitalized on MRU’s mistakes and finally tied the set up at 18-18, which forced a Cougars timeout.
After the break, a Dino service error, then a few points were traded by the two teams. But, back-to-back points for the Cougars would see them jump out to a crucial 22-20 lead.
However, Dinos No. 8 Matthew Brown would make a clutch kill and hit his own ace, bringing the game back even at 22-all.
After getting another point, the Cougars would be powered by another Hudson kill, setting up a pivotal set point.
The Dinos would make an error on set point, and the Cougars took the first set 25-23, taking the 1-0 set lead.
SET 2
After some early defensive pressure, the Dinos jumped out to an early 3-0 set lead.
The Cougars would get on the board from a kill by No. 16 Outside Hitter Michael McAlpine making it 3-1 Dinos.
The U of C Dinos player get set in defensive positions as MRU Cougars outside hitter No. 16 Michael McAlpine rises to smash a potential kill during their game on Kenyon Court on February 21, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
After a few more Dinos points, the Cougars would go back to the well and set up Orr for another kill—6-3 Dinos.
The teams would trade points again; much like the first set, momentum was hard to capture.
The Dinos would grab a few points in a row that extended their lead to 12-7.
Now it was the Cougars who called a timeout to try and stop the Dinos’ momentum.
After the timeout, MRU’s No. 14 Outside Hitter Kai Toney would have kill opportunities dug out by the Dinos; they would set up a quick kill from No. 4 Luke Nodwell to take the point.
The second set would start to get away from the Cougars; they dropped consecutive points but would get some points of their own, bringing the score to 19-16.
Players on court watch as the Dinos No. 24 outside hitter Will Kay leaps and is mid-set-winning smash past Cougars No. 2 Kale Orr during their game on Kenyon Court on February 21, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
The Dinos secured another big point, but the Cougars, led by another huge McAlpine kill—his seventh of the contest so far—brought the game back to 20-19.
U of C would grab the momentum and set up a set point up 24-21, and Dinos No. 24 Outside Hitter Will Kay would pick up the set-ending kill—25-21 Dinos.
The match would head into the third set, knotted up at 1-1.
SET 3
The Dinos dominated the early points with strong kills and stiff blocks, and jumped out to an early 5-1 lead.
U of C would again capitalize on some Cougars mistakes that extended their lead to 8-3.
Now, it was MRU’s turn to capitalize on mistakes as they worked their way back into the set, now down 15-14, forcing a Dinos timeout.
After the Dinos got a nice kill, their following serve would find the net, which kept the Cougars in the set 16-15.
The MRU Cougars players celebrate their third set victory over the U of C Dinos as players No. 12 Ryan John and No. 13 Leks Symes high-five during their game at Kenyon Court on February 21, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
A Dinos kill was blocked into their side, and a kill went wayward giving the Cougars their first lead in set three at 17-16 since the first point of the set.
The teams again traded points, but the Cougars would get two quick points after a Dinos mishit, and a kill from No. 12 Outside Ryan John gave MRU a 20-18 lead.
The Cougars lead would grow to 23-20, and Kenyon Court exploded as MRU got their 24th point, setting up a set-point.
The Dinos would stay alive with a clutch kill, but after an MRU kill landed, the Cougars took set three 25-21 and went up 2-1 in sets.
SET 4
The MRU Cougars huddle up on court and are ready to get the fourth set underway against U of C on Kenyon Court during their game on February 21, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
The Dinos would need to capture set four to send this contest to a match-deciding set five.
Set four would be a closely guarded affair, neither team extended themselves to secure a lead or made mistakes to fall behind.
The Dinos players helplessly watch as No. 24 Will Kay makes an incredible diving dig to save a point against the MRU Cougars on Kenyon Court on February 21, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
Both teams played exceptional defence and capitalized on their opportunities, leaving the score tied at 15-15.
After a Cougars serve snuck over the net, dropping for an ace, the Dinos responded with a clutch block, again knotting things up at 18.
The Dinos finally captured the momentum, taking a 21-19 lead, but a Cougars kill kept them in the set at 21-20.
However, the Dinos played with desperation and saved their season as they closed the set out 25-22.
SET 5
The pivotal fifth set started relatively the same as earlier sets as neither team gave up a lead.
A Cougars kill went off a Dinos block and out of play to keep the Cougars alive 3-2.
The Dinos and Cougars Men’s Volleyball Teams prepare for the do-or-die fifth and final set during their game on Kenyon Court on February 21, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
Finally, the Dinos seized momentum, sparking a 6-3 lead and forcing the Cougars to call a timeout.
The timeout gave the Dinos some more momentum as they would reach 8 points, and as teams switched sides, Kenyon Court became a battleground for fans.
As conflicting chants for MRU and U of C broke out, the fans gave the set its proper intensity.
After the switch, the Dinos got another point.
In the following point, U of C were unable to return a kill, but still led 9-7.
The Dinos would take the next point and a commanding 10-7 lead in the do-or-die set.
After a Cougars point that kept them in the match, Dinos No. 24 Kay picked up his 16th kill of the night, rebuilding the Dinos three-point lead, 11-8.
MRU responded with a kill of their own, but could not save the next point, falling behind 12-9 in the set.
Cougars No. 2 Orr picked up his game-leading 25th kill of the evening, again saving the Cougars down 12-10.
The Dinos would again get a crucial point; now up 13-10, it was MRU’s Hudson who would return fire with a kill—13-11 Dinos.
MRU saw the subsequent point fall their way, but Toney followed up with a serve that flew out of bounds, setting up double match point for the Dinos up 14-12.
The Cougars saved the following point, but the Dinos closed the match out 15-13.
The fifth set and match would go to the Dinos, ending the Cougars’ season.
The Cougars gave everything they could, but were unable to stop U of C in the season finale.
The duality of sports is fully on display as the victorious Dinos Men’s Volleyball Team celebrate their comeback victory, as the MRU team players solemnly embrace one another as their season came to an abrupt end after their loss on Kenyon Court on February 21, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
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