MVB OPEN WITH STRAIGHT SET WIN OVER BRANDON


For Immediate release: January 16, 2009

Kamloops, BC—The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack seem to have an extra player in 2009. That player is “Mo”.  As in mo-mentum.  The WolfPack extended their 2009 winning streak to seven as they downed the Brandon University Bobcats in three straight sets in Canada West Action at the Tournament Capital Center on Friday (Jan 16).  The scores were 25-19, 25-29,26-24.

“ Lots of intensity on both sides tonight,” stated WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly.  “Brandon struggled on the pass, but defensively they didn’t let the ball die. Against most teams we would have more kills.  But they ran things out of the court. They were running to the far extremes of our gym and we have one of the largest in the country. They fought real hard in that aspect.  We were lucky to get away with a three set victory.”

“We knew coming in here that it would be a tough match, said Brandon coach Russ Paddock. “Thompson Rivers is a big emotional team, and getting used to the facility, whatever the case may be, our service reception and serving wasn’t very good in the first couple of sets and it put us on our heels. The third set could have gone either way, we just couldn’t extend it.”

The match had a lot of emotion on both sides.  It led some to believe this was a carry over from last years Canada West quarterfinals in Brandon, where the WolfPack swept the Bobcats in three straight.  “ I don’t think so,” stated Paddock.  “ The players who are emotional are like that every game. The more you play a team the more you don’t want to lose to them.  I think both teams want to win to get a place in the playoffs.”

“We came into the league at the same time,” Hennelly explained.  “ We are very close.  I think the fans could feel it. They could sense what was going on out in the court.  There isn’t any bad blood.  The guys respect each other and they go after each other hard.”

TRU was led by Gord Perrin.  The 2nd year outside hitter from Creston BC had 17 kills and one service ace. Robin Schoebel (3rd year, outside hitter, Monaco) contribued 17 kills.  Setter Colin Jaggard (4th year, Calgary, Alta) had 37 assists while Kyle Donen (libero, 3rd year, White Rock, BC) had eight digs to be named the “Subway Leader of the Pack”.

“I think he came up with some really big digs,” states Hennelly.  “ Especially in the second set. He came up with one which hit the side of the block which he stretched out for. He was solid passing. Sometimes people don’t notice that. They are serving hard balls. Donen is making them look easy and he was a good zone.”

Donen thought his crew came out with a lot of emotion.  “We really wanted to win and we showed it.” He thought Brandon’s flat start  coupled helped the WolfPack capture their 8 th victory in 13 starts.  Brandon fell to 6 and 5.

The Bobcats were led by Paul Sanderson. The 3rd year left side from Melbourne Australia had 14 kills on 34 attempts.  Andrew Korol (5 th year, setter, East Selkirk, Man) had 30 assists. Cameron Blewett (2nd year, left side, Melbourne, Australia) had 12 digs.

The same two teams battle tomorrow (Sat Jan 17).  The match begins at 630 pm.