WOLFPACK MENS VOLLEYBALL INTO FINAL OF OWN TOURNAMENT
For Immediate Release: January 3, 2008
Kamloops, BC—When Pat Hennelly put together his second International Men’s Volleyball Tournament, he was hoping that it would be exciting. But he also secretly hoped that his Thompson Rivers University WolfPack would be in the final. On Saturday night (Jan 3) at the Tournament Capital Center, he got his wish.
The WolfPack went through the round robin portion of the 4 team, McDonald’s International Invitational Tournament unbeaten . TRU went 3 and 0 after downing Budo International of Japan in three straight sets. The scores were 25-23,25-21,22-25.
Hennelly had a number of fans second guessing after he started a line up which included a few players who normally don’t: namely 2nd year middle Stefan Savoie (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and outside hitter Josh Boruck (2nd year, Revelstoke, BC). Both players responded. Savoie had a number of key kills to turn the tide while Borcuk was named the “Mcdonald’s Man of the Match” for the second straight time—coming up with 13 kills and five errors.
“This tournament is the last chance for some of our players to get some time in before we make the run for the playoffs in Canada West,” said Hennelly. “ It’s going to give both those players a lot of confidence. It was good to see Marty (Stenderup, 2nd year setter, Strib, Denmark) get out there despite a bad back and play the entire match.” Stenderup wound up with 33 assists.
“It feels unreal,” said Boruck afterwards. “ We’ve been doing two a days all week to prepare. The work is starting to pay off. We are starting to come together as a team. Our defensive play has been unreal.”
Hennelly had a lot of praise for Boruck. “He touches 11’7” which has to be one of the top verticals in the league. He hits the ball hard. We call him the “Terminator”: he either gets the kill or if he makes a mistake, he’s not getting blocked or dug.”
Boruck was honest about his play.” Most of my game is when I don’t think and just play. It was nice to not think about it and just go out there.”
Budo was led by outside Masotoshi Yoshida. He had 11 kills to be named “Man of the Match”. Budo finished with a round robin record of a win and two defeats.
The win by the WolfPack sets up a gold medal match against NCAA Runners-up Pepperdine Wave of California. The two teams met on the opening night of the tournament (Fri Jan 2), TRU won in four sets (25-18,25-19,20-25,26-24).
“I think we had a good jump on Pepperdine in that match and we caught them off guard a bit,” says Hennelly. “They’ve now had a chance to regroup and watch video, and see us play. Marv Dunphy (Pepperdine’s coach) is one of the finest coaches in the world. He’s a gold medallist in 1988 and was an advisor for Team USA in Beijing. He’ll have a plan for the WolfPack, hopefully we’ll be able to handle it. They have a lot of pride in their program…and representing the U.S., they will come out fired up for sure.”
Boruck as well is looking forward it. “Its going to awesome,” he said. “Probably one of the best I’ll ever be in. Paul Carroll (two time All American) and the rest of Pepperdine---they’ve got some fabulous players. For us..we have to outwork ‘em. We are pretty well evenly matched for offense and blocking. It’s going to come down to out working them. When you have to outwork someone it means it’ll be a great match.”
Earlier in the day, the Wave finished the round robin with a straight set victory over the University of Sherbrooke Vert et Or. The scores were 25-14,25-,14,25-15. Brent Schirripa (outside hitter, junior, Los Angeles, Calif) had nine kills. Paul Carroll (outside hitter, senior, Forster, Australia)had eight kills. The Wave finished at 2 wins and a loss after beating Budo in four sets. The scores were 22-25,25-22,26-24,25-21.
The University of Sherbrooke Vert et Or went through the round robin winless. They will play in the bronze medal match Sunday, January 4 th at 3 pm against Budo. That match is at the TRU Gym.
The Gold Medal Match has a 5 pm start time at the Tournament Capital Center.