WOLFPACK HOLD OFF WESMEN TO WIN IN FIVE SETS
For Immediate Release: November 22, 2008
Winnipeg--The Thompson Rivers Wolfpack held off a determined Winnipeg Wesmen team to pull out a 3-2 (25-16, 25-16, 21-25, 15-25, 15-9) victory Saturday night at the Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg.
“We were in complete control in the first two sets,” said WolfPack head coach Cal Wohlford. “We did let it slip away in the third set, kind of went into the tank in the fourth but played well in the fifth. “
The Wesmen rallied from a 0-2 deficit to force a fifth and deciding set but fell just short of completing the comeback.
Thompson Rivers cruised along in the first set running out to leads of 8-2 and 16-9 at the technical timeouts. The Wolfpack reeled off three straight points to extend their lead to 19-9 before the Wesmen rallied with a 4-0 run to close the gap to 19-13. The Wolfpack were able to regroup to win the first set 25-16.
The second set was a carbon copy of the first set with the Wolfpack leading at both timeouts by scores of 8-3 and 16-9. Thompson Riverswould go on to win the second set 25-16 and hold a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set things started out on the right foot for the Wolfpack holding leads of 8-6 and 16-13 at the technical timeouts. After the second break Winnipeg went on a 6-1 run to take the lead at 19-17. After both teams exchanged points to the score of 22-20 in Winnipeg’s favor, the Wesmen were able to score the final three points to win the third set 25-21.
With momentum on their side the Wesmen simply dominated the fourth set racing out to a lead of 8-1 at the first technical timeout and extending their lead to 16-2 at the second break of the fourth set. The Wolfpack made a brief charge but the Wesmen led by Marlee Bragg’s seven kills in the set forced a fifth and deciding set with a decisive 25-15 win in set four.
In the fifth set the Wolfpack jumped out to an 8-5 lead at the timeout. The Wesmen were able to take their first lead of the set reeling off four straight points to hold a 9-8 lead. After the score was tied at 9-9, Thompson Rivers went on a 6-0 run to win the fifth set 15-9.
The Wolfpack were led by Anna Dyakiewicz’s (2nd year, Burnaby, BC) 17 kills. Laura Plouffe(5 th year, libero, Sherwood Park, Alta)
had a strong defensive match finishing with a match high 28 digs. Lykke Degner(2nd year, middle, Copenhagen, Denmark) was the top blocker with three blocks.
“I thought that Stine (Christainsen, setter, 2nd year, Ribe, Denmark) played probably her most consistant game of the year.” Said Wohlford. “ she made some key decisions and was very steady.”
Reflecting on the weekend sweep of the Wesmen, Wohlford said “These were wins that we need to win. We need to get two more next weekend at home to Saskatchewan to set up a great second half.”
The victory improves the Wolfpack’s record to 3-7 on the season. The Wesmen fall to 1-7.
(with assistance from the University of Winnipeg Sports Information)