WOLFPACK MENS VOLLEYBALL WIN BRONZE AT CANADA WEST FOR 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR.
(Josh Boruck (left) and Colin Jaggard (right) were key contributors in the victory)
For immediate release: February 21, 2009
Edmonton, Alta--For the second straight year, color the medal bronze for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team at the Canada West Final Four. Again, the University of Winnipeg Wesmen were the victims. Unlike 2008, when the WolfPack won their first medal in five sets, TRU needed only three to win this time around. The scores were 28-26.25-23,31-29.
"This one feels good, " said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. "After the up and down season we've had. It was great to see ourselves enjoying it on the court. The team did a fine job, especially when we were without Behlul (Yavasgel, 4 th year outside hitter, Aydin Turkey) and Robin (Schoebel, 3rd year outside hitter, Monaco)."
While Yavasgel didn't dress, Schoebel was rested for next weeks Nationals after experiencing mild discomfort in his lower body. Both are expected back for the CIS Nationals.
"Josh Boruck(1st year, outside hitter, Revelstoke, BC) was outstanding," continued Hennelly. "For him to come in for Schoebel and pick up 23 kills was phenomenal. Martin Stenderup (2nd year, setter, Ribe, Denmark) had three service aces in the match as well. The whole team was very steady."
In the first set, Winnipeg was up quickly 2-0. After TRU tied it up at 5, The 'Pack then found themselves down 12-11 before they rattled off three straight points. With Winnipeg up 20-17, a kill by Boruck and a service ace by Stefan Savoie (2nd year, middle, Winnipeg, Man) cut the deficit to a single point. That saw Stenderup come off the bench to notch the first of his service aces. Later, the Wesmen led 26-25 until the WolfPack went on a 3-0 roll including a service ace by Gord Perrin (2nd year, outside hitter, Creston, BC) to go up 27-26. A kill by Andy Haley (5 th year, outside hitter, Stony Plain, Alta) sealed the deal.
The 2nd set saw Winnpeg up 16-15 before TRU scored three points in a row--two of them on Winnipeg attack errors. The Wesmen mounted a comeback when they were down 20-18, scoring three themselves. Two of those points on kills from Alan Ahow(5th year, outside, Winnipeg, Man). He had 10 in 24 attempts for Winnipeg. TRU led 24-22 before another Boruck kill salted away the victory.
In the final set, TRU quickly jumped out to a 5-1 lead. after Winnipeg went up 13-12, The Pack regained the lead at 14-13 thanks to another kill by Jaggard and a Wesmen attack error. Jaggard got praise from Hennelly afterwards. "Although he and Donen (Kyle, 3rd year, Libero, White Rock, BC) each had five digs. Colin showed great veteran leadership by distributing the ball. I had four middles in there tonite, which is very difficult on a setter. And all of his digs came at key moments of the match." Jaggard wound up with 33 assists.
Winnpeg was led by Andrew Town(4th year, outside, Winnipeg, Man) with 14 kills on 33 attempts. He also had six errors. Daniel Lother(3rd year, setter, WInnipeg, Man) had 36 assists and 3 digs. Daniel Andres(1st year, midlde, San Clara, Man) had two blocks, two block assists and three digs as well for the Wesmen.
Boruck had 23 kills in 32 attempts to lead the WolfPack. Perrin contributed 9 kills in 25 attempts with four errors. Savoie added 4 kills in 11 attempts with three errors.
When asked how this bronze medal compared with 2008, Hennelly said "The big difference I think was that everything was new. We were beaten quite badly by Alberta going into last years match and we had lost to Winnipeg twice in league play and had something to prove. Although we had lost to Winnipeg again twice in league, we had higher expectations. That's because we have set the bar higher all year long. Hopefully we can carry this momentum on next week."