WOLFPACK DROP FIVE SETTER TO MCMASTER IN CIS MVB QUARTERFINAL

For Immediate Release, February 27, 2009

Edmonton, Alta--The roller coaster season of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men's Volleyball season continued in the Alberta capital. Unfortunately, it took a dip at the wrong time: in the quarterfinals of the CIS Championships.

The WolfPack lost a heart breaking 5 set decision to third ranked McMaster Marauders of Ontario. The 6 th ranked TRU squad fell 26-24,23-25,25-17,18-25,15-12 decision. The loss not only spoilt the 'Pack's hopes of winning another medal, but with Winnipeg bowing to Quebec champion Laval Rouge et Or in the first quarter final, that means for the first time since 1995 there won't be at least three schools from the Canada West in the semi finals.

It also ends an eight year run of Canada West teams sweeping the three spots on the CIS podium.

"It felt like we couldn't get something rolling today," said a gloomy TRU head coach Pat Hennelly. " Both teams had opportunities to put the other team away early. I think both teams struggled a bit, but I think Mac stuck in there. In the 5 th set, we had a little bit of a gap and it fell apart with some passing things. It's unfortunate. We had some good 5 th setters. We knew it was going to be a tight one as we were the underdogs coming in. You want to play your best volleyball at this time of year and today we didn't."

In the first set, the Wolfpack garnered a 10-7 lead at one point before McMaster went on first a 4-0 run (with the score 16-11 TRU) and then notched 7 unanswered points when they were down 17-15.

"We were way up in the first set," said Hennelly. "We fall back and I don't get why we didn't have more emotion. We looked nervous for some reason. They weren't putting any pressure on us. It's baffling to me."

In the second set, the Marauders were up 15-12 before TRU went on a 6-0 run to take the lead at 16-15. Two McMaster service errors did them in as the WolfPack garnered the victory.

McMaster never led by more than three in the third set, but then went on a 5-0 run when they led 19-16.

"We just battled the ball in that set." Hennelly recounted.

Marauder coach Dave Preston also felt the match could have gone either way. "When you put two good volleyball teams come together, those kind of things happen." he said referring to the ebb and flow of the match. " I was really proud of the way we responded. We could have let it get us down but we didn't. We are not oblivious to everything that was put on this match beyond us. We understand the history of everything behind Canada West and Ontario's lack of productivity at the Nationals. But it really didn't mean that much to us. We could have gone another way, but I have a pretty good group of guys and they responded well."

The fourth set saw Gord Perrin (2nd year, outside hitter, Creston, BC) coming up with some key kills. He had 20 to lead the Wolfpack in the match.

The fifth and final set saw the score see saw until Perrin's attempt at a kill hit the net to give McMaster a 9-7 lead. They stretched their advantage to 14-10 before a late WolfPack rally fell short.

Jeremy Groenvald (3rd year,outside hitter, Welland, Ont) led the way with 28 kills on 45 attempts with eight errors. Peter Hrkal (4th year, outside hitter,Caledon,Ont) had 13 kills and a team high six digs. Ryan Hudson (4th year setter, Winnipeg, Man) had 57 assists.

For the WolfPack: Robin Schoebel (3rd year, outside, Monaco) contributed 17 kills on 32 attempts with seven errors. Colin Jaggard (4 th year, setter, Calgary, Alta) had 25 assists and two solo blocks . Martin Stenderup (2nd year, setter, Ribe, Denmark) added 20 assists.

The WolfPack will now meet the Winnipeg Wesmen in the consolation semi finals Saturday morning at 1 pm (MST). McMaster will take on Laval, who play in the semi final for the first time in seven years at 630 pm (MST)