WolfPack gear up for Bisons

 “Potentially, it’s the most important weekend of our season.”

That’s how the coach of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team describes their upcoming home series with the University of Manitoba Bisons.  Pat Hennelly says it could determine who travels on the first weekend of the Canada West Playoffs and who gets to stay home. 

“They are one win behind us,” Hennelly says as he sizes up the competition.  “They swept Trinity Western and split with Brandon.”
 
The WolfPack are playing some of their best Volleyball. They split last weekend (Jan 18-19) with UBC. Rookie outside hitter Gord Perrin, of Creston, BC, was a force in their 5 set victory on Saturday night.  The 6-6 Youth National Team member had 21 kills and three errors.

“Gord needs to continue to be consistant in order to be the dominant player I know he can be,” says Hennelly.

 Outside hitter Robin Schoebel (2nd year, Monaco) had  21 points and seven service aces.

“We are 500 at home and hope to continue or improve that trend as we get used to our new gymnasium,” states Hennelly who says his team's inability to get relaxed in the spacious Tournament Capital Center has been a downfall. 

They’ll be meeting a team very much like their own. The WolfPack are fifth in kills averaging 12.07 a game. Manitoba is sixth averaging 11.82.  Manitoba does lead the Canada West in digs averaging 8.84 per game. TRU is 9th at 6.69.

The main cog to the Bison’s fortunes is Sa-hali Secondary Grad and former UCC Sun Demon, setter Drew Venables. 

"He’s doing a great job blocking," says Hennelly of Venables. The senior is 5th in Canada West in assists (averaging 9.16 per game).  TRU enters the weekend with a 7 and 5 record. Manitoba stands at 6 and 8.

On the womens side, Carrie Barrett’s Lady WolfPack have another tough weekend ahead. Following their losses at UBC last weekend (Jan 18-19), TRU faces a Manitoba team which is tied for first in the Canada West (along with UBC at 13 and 1). 

These two teams met in the preseason in Saskatoon (Oct 5), the Bisons winning in three straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-8). 

"They are playing much better than when we first saw them," states Barrett. “But then again, so are we.”

Barrett says her young squad is learning a lot of life lessons as the season draws to a close.

“Last weekend, we were up on UBC. The girls looked around and saw what was happening and couldn’t believe it.  It's then when we start to have problems."  

One thing in their favour this weekend is that they are playing at home. It’s a place where all four of their victories have come this season.

The WolfPack will again look to first year setter Steine  Christainsen for another big performance. She’s been one of the teams most consistant players since the Christmas Break.  

Match times are 6 pm and 7:30 pm on Friday Jan 25th and 5 pm and 6:30 pm on Saturday Jan 26th at the Tournament Capital Center in Kamloops.