THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY WOLFPACK MENS VOLLEYBALL TEAM GEARING UP FOR WINNIPEG

They say that Revenge is a dish best served cold. 

The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack want to serve up some of that dish Wednesday and Thursday (Jan 2 and 3) as they entertain the defending CIS Champion University of Winnipeg Wesmen.

Not only are the Wesmen and the WolfPack tied for third place in the Canada West with 6 and 2 records, but the two have a score to settle from last years playoffs. The Wesmen downed TRU in their first ever post season appearance en route to winning the National Championship.  "We really want to win as quickly as possible in order to secure our goal of hosting a playoff game," says Robin Schoebel, the WolfPack's second year outside hitter.

"We played them 5 times last year," stated TRU Coach Pat Hennelly "They (Winnipeg) returned everyone but two guys, so we are very familiar with them. We are chomping at the bit to get back at them and prove that we can beat them." 

Hennelly is confident that the Wesmen's game plan will surround trying to stop Schoebel, who currently leads the CIS with 143 kills and averages 5.63 points per game.

"They are trying to match up their best blocker against Robin when he's on the front row," says Hennelly. "We try to run a bit of offense away from Robin to mix things up. Its quite a chess game out there positioning certain guys against certain guys in front of the net."  Hennelly adds that Schoebel relishes the role.

"Robin's so physcially dominant that whether he is hitting back row or front row, he can handle it."

The native of Monaco, a second year Arts student takes the attention all in stride. "It's not frustrating. Thats why I play the game. It's exciting."

Hennelly says that Schoebel has adjusted well to the added attention. "He is the kind of guy who wants to be the best player. He puts that pressure on himself. It's a matter of our passing and delivering him the ball in different positions for him to be successful."

Wednesday's and Thursday's matches go at 7 pm. Both matches are at the Tournament Capital Center. Thursday's match will be included as part of the 2008 Little Caesars Hot and Ready Volleyball Classic which includes Pepperdine Wave of the NCAA, Laval Rouge et Or from the Quebec Student Sport Federation of the CIS, and 2007 CIS Bronze Medal champions: the Trinity Western Spartans.  Tickets for the event are still available.