Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – This weekend's opponent for the Griffins women's volleyball team is big, packs a punch and is one heck of a measuring stick.
"We're measuring ourselves against, I think, the best team in Canada this season," said Griffins head coach Ken Briggs ahead of weekend matches at the 17-3 Calgary Dinos (Friday, 11 a.m.; Saturday, 12 p.m., Canada West TV).
"They're ranked third, but if not as good as UBCO (ranked No. 1), they're even better athletically. Those two teams are really good. U of C has a great group of young athletes – size and athleticism – they'd had a really good year."
In many ways, it will be like facing the UBC-Okanagan Heat, who brought their super-sized middles into the David Atkinson Gym and won six of seven sets for a weekend sweep.
"It's the same blueprint (in the middle) and probably one of the top two, if not the top, outside hitter in the league in Kate Pexman," said Briggs, whose 2-18 team will miss the playoffs. "They're kids that we've grown up with. We know them. It's certainly a simple system to play and we'll see what happens."
If they elevate like the Heat, who were able to sky scrape above MacEwan's block and put tremendous pressure on their defence as a result, it's going to place a greater emphasis on the timing of jumps at the net.
The good news is Griffins middles Haley Gilfillan and McKenna Stevenson have been rounding into top form, routinely out-blocking their opponents. Against Brandon last Saturday, Stevenson had 10 blocks – tying the fifth-best output in MacEwan's Canada West history.
"McKenna and Haley have been pretty steady," said Briggs.
"Cass has been Cass," added of Cassidy Kinsella, who continues to lead the Griffins with 267 kills, seventh-best in the conference.
"And Claire (McLoughlin) is probably setting the best she ever has in her career. She outdueled Mary (Thomson) the first night at Brandon and I think she's the best setter (in Canada West). To have Claire duke it out with her and actually score more is a good thing."
Kinsella is also chasing conference milestones as she heads into the final four matches of her university career – Calgary this weekend and then at home against Winnipeg Feb. 16-17.
She currently sits fourth in Canada West career kills with 1222. That's just four behind former Trinity Western Spartan Sophie Carpentier (1226) and 32 shy of former Alberta Pandas standout Tawana Wardlaw's 1254. She's unlikely to catch Alberta's Meg Casault (1321) for top spot.
Kinsella's in a similar spot for points – fourth all-time with 1402.0. She is highly likely to pass third-place Iuliia Pakhomenko of Thompson Rivers (1404.0) on Friday. Second-place Carpentier (1472.5) might be in reach with a really strong finish, but Kinsella won't catch Casault (1513.0) for top spot.
Kinsella's feats are even more impressive considering her stats are only counting four seasons as her first was at the ACAC level before the Griffins transitioned to Canada West.
The only other unique aspect of the weekend is that both games are in the afternoon, which will change the way the Griffins prepare.
"What it does change is our game prep because we won't even get in their gym," said Briggs. "We're not going to come for a 7 a.m. shoot-around at their gym.
"It's kind of an odd weekend. The good thing is we know a lot of their girls. They're big and physical and that's why they're at the top. It's one more weekend of a measuring stick."
