Vikes travel to Calgary to take on Dinos in CanWest Quarter-Finals series

It’s a best-of-three battle royal in the west!

The University of Victoria Vikes women’s basketball team kick off their first round of playoffs in Alberta against the Calgary Dinos.

The fifth-seeded Vikes (16-4) are flying into the quarterfinals on a 13-game winning streak after defeating the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades last week in a winner-take-all matchup.

Photos by: APShutter.com

Head coach Dani Sinclair expects the series to be a high level of competition.

“Both teams like to play up tempo and our girls are looking to keep their momentum going into the next round,” she says.

After visiting the team’s practice in Victoria, it’s clear this Vikes team has one goal in mind: to win.

Sinclair says it will be a great chance to extend their season.

“They love playing together and want to keep this run going for as long as possible.”

UVic spars up against the Dinos, who are a fourth seed team. With the new arrangement for playoffs, the higher seed team will host the best-of-three series in which the winner progresses to the semifinals.

The 15-5 Dinos are coming off a first-round bye and will have home advantage at Jack Simpson Gym.

While some teams see the travel factor as a disadvantage, Sinclair appreciates the little moments with her girls that make road trips more enjoyable.

“On the road, you get to see/hear things that you wouldn’t otherwise that are for the most part pretty hilarious. They are a close-knit group and they like to bug and tease each other a lot. As a player, the moments on road trips are some of the best memories you’ll have when you look back.”

Those are the memories that take her back to her own road trip days, too.

“This is a very special group that has developed into a true team,” says Sinclair.

Coach Sinclair and the University of Victoria Vikes hit the court versus the Calgary Dinos on February 15th at 5 pm in the Jack Simpson Gymnasium.

Written by: Crystal Scuor