WolfPack capture first ever CIS medal
Mark the date down: March 2,2008. A historical day for Thompson Rivers University. One of Canada's youngest universities came of age on this date. Its the day they captured their first ever CIS medal. The WolfPack Men's Volleyball team captured a bronze at the CIS Nationals at the University of Laval. The WolfPack downed Dalhousie University Tigers of Nova Scotia in five sets, coming back from a 2-0 deficit. The scores were 17-25,25-27,25-17,25-17,15-10.
There was some sort of poetic justice that the victory came in five sets. It's something this third year program experienced a lot of this season.
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Photo by Yan Doublet, PhotoAction.ca |
"When you are in a league as tough as us (Canada West), some of our losses this year were in five sets," exclaimed WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly, who took this team from a 1 and 19 record three years ago to the bronze medal. "Our guys never lost faith and I thought we gained momentum as the match went on."
Ah old Mo. If he were personified for the WolfPack, it could of been in the person of third year setter Colin Jaggard of Calgary.
"He really turned his game around," said Hennelly. "He, quite frankly, didn't play very well in the first two sets. I don't know what clicked into his head in the third set, but it's the best I've seen him play. He really should get credit for balancing the offense and getting the ball to the right guys." Jaggard wound up with 45 assists in the match.
And one of those guys was 2nd year outside hitter Robin Schoebel. The native of Monaco had a number of key kills and blocks. He wound up with 23 kills and 2 service aces and had 26 points.
The WolfPack rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the third set to eventually win 25-17. They carried the momentum of that win and one in the fourth set into the deciding frame where they had a seven point lead at one point.
"Their serving game really put pressure on us as they gained confidence in that third set," stated Dalhousie boss Dan Ota. "Our passers couldn't get anything going and their blocking game simply shut us down. Unfortunately, our serving got worse as the match went on. It was a real fragile switch in momentum and we couldn't recover. I have to give credit to Thompson Rivers, a lot of teams would have packed it in, but a credit to Pat and his club, they didn't."
Dale Iwanoczko Award Winner Niklas Rademacher (4th year, Bocholt, Ger) led the Tigers with 21 kills and 24 points.
The match marked the end of the career for three members of the WolfPack - libero Graham Allard and setter Tim Flannigan both of Prince George, BC and middle Tony Zylstra of Edmonton Alberta.
"When the pressure is put on, we know how to respond," said Flannigan who will return to the program for half the season next year as an assistant. "I don't think Dalhousie could react when we started to take control."
"To medal in our program's third year of existence is something truly unique," said Zylstra who had eight kills and four block assists in his final University match. He was playing his final game despite having a badly sprained ankle. "All year we were in the toughest conference in Canada. Every win, no matter who we played. The other teams proved to us that anyone can beat you no matter who it was. It' not a storybook ending because we wanted to take the gold, but still its pretty special."
When asked about the legacy that this team will leave on the school, Zylstra got a little emotional. "All these guys will be my friends through and through. Behlul (Yavasgel of Turkey who is into his 3rd year with TRU) says he's getting married in three years and I told him I'm coming for sure....."
As for the future of the TRU program, its nothing but bright.
"This means we are absolutely legit," said Pat Hennelly. "We are on the map. Kids are going to see this on the website (CIS), they'll look at this and decide that Thompson Rivers is a destination of choice. It's a place people should want to come to school because its excellent. Now that the volleyball program is rolling with 5 guys on the floor today who'll be there in 2010."
2010 will be a big year for the WolfPack. It's the year they will host the Nationals.
MATCH NOTES: The bronze medal secured another Canada West Dominance of this event. For the ninth straight year, Canada West teams have won all the medals at the Nationals. In the 5th place match, UBC downed host Laval Rouge et Or in five sets: 26-24,20-25,20-25,25-23,15-8. The T-Birds were awarded the final two points of the match At 12-8, Laval’s player Fredric Desbiens (1st year La Malbaie Quebec) was expelled from the match, the referee getting him a red card. To replace him on the court, Laval had to do a sub, but their sub limit was already reached. Only five Laval players remained on the court and then, the team was disqualified for this fifth set. So UBC won this set 15-8 and the game 3-2.