WOLFPACK MVB LOSE FOR FIRST TIME IN 2009
For immediate release: January 23, 2009
Langley, BC—It had to happen sooner or later. The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men’s Volleyball team has finally tasted defeat for the first time in the calendar year 2009. The WolfPack went down in three straight to the host Trinity Western Spartans in Canada West action. The scores were 25-19,25-23-,25-21. The WolfPack fall to 9 and 6 on the season. The Spartans are now 8 and 5. The WolfPack had an eight game winning streak (including 4 in their international tournament) snapped with the defeat.
- The Spartans took full advantage of 17 WolfPack service errors (0-17) to move to 8-5 on the season while dropping the WolfPack to 9-6. The Spartans in contrast had eight service aces (8-7).
The WolfPack had six service errors in the first set, which as it turned out was a sign of things to come for TRU. The Spartans used the inconsistent serving to take 8-5 and 16-12 leads at the two technical breaks. TRU never got things going in the set as TWU's Josh Doornenbal (Edmonton) closed out the set, 25-19 on a strong middle attack.
TWU carried the momentum into the second set as they once again led 8-5 at the first break. But the WolfPack turned the momentum and were able to take a one point, 16-15, lead into the second break. TRU's Martin Korsbak (Nyborg, Denmark) served four straight to pace an 11-6 WolfPack run. The two teams played side-out ball to 21-21. Then Doornenbal got two straight serves, including an ace, to give TWU separation at 23-21. A kill by TRU's Gord Perrin (Creston, B.C.) got the set to 24-23 for TWU, but the WolfPack could not tie it up as the Spartans' Mikiah Schalk (Red Deer, Alta.) hammered a ball home to give TWU the 2-0 lead, 25-23.
The loss took the wind out of the WolfPack as the Spartans came out flying and were quickly up 8-3 to start the third set. TWU never let up as they carried a 16-10 lead into the second break. The WolfPack were able to get to within three points, 20-17, but could not fully close the margin as TWU finished off the set and the match with the 25-21 win.
Rudy Verhoeff (Calgary) and Aaron VandenBrink (Langley, B.C.) with seven kills and Doornenbal with six kills, four blocks and two aces led the Spartans, while Perrin, the CIS Player of the week had 15 kills and Robin Schoebel (Monaco) with 12 kills led the WolfPack.
The two teams will match up again Saturday night at 7 p.m. The match will mark the final Canada West conference home game for graduating senior Chaim Schalk (Red Deer, Alta.).
Match Notes: TWU finished with 34 kills (34-8-67), while TRU finished with 44 kills (44-16-80)...the Spartans out blocked the WolfPack six to four...Thompson Rivers had 24 digs to Trinity Westerns 19...TWU sits in fourth place in Canada West with 16 points. They trail third place TRU by two points and second place Calgary by six points, but TWU has two games in hand on both teams
(with assistance from Trinity Western Sports Information)