WVB PLAYOFF HOPES SUFFER SEVERE SETBACK
(WolfPack Coach Cal Wohlford)
For immediate release: January 24, 2009
Langley BC—The playoff chances of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Women’s Volleyball team are hanging by a thread after they were swept this weekend by the Trinity Western Spartans. The WolfPack are now 5 and 11 on the season after falling to the Spartans in 5 games. The scores were: 26-24,17-25,16-25,27-25,15-9.
“Overall, we couldn’t capitalize,” stated WolfPack Head Coach Cal Wohlford. “ We still seem to be making those little error which cost us. We have too many missed chances. We put up a better fight but still fell short.”
In order for TRU to make the post season for the first time in their four year Canada West history, they would need to have the Regina Cougars lose twice to Alberta next weekend while TRU would need to sweep the Calgary Dinos. Then TRU would need to sweep Regina when the two squads meet in a final series on the last weekend of the regular season (Feb 6-7).
In Saturday’s (Jan 24) game at TWU's David E. Enarson Gym seniors Danielle Foth (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Dayna Jansen Van Doorn (Langley, B.C.) each had 15 kills. The win moves the No. 3 Spartans to 11-5. The loss drops the WolfPack to 5-11.
Foth added 21 digs and Dayna Jansen Van Doorn added seven blocks and service ace. Also contributing for TWU were Carmen Dyck (Creston, B.C.) with 13 kills and Kim Klassen (Abbotsford, B.C.) with 10 kills, 20 digs and four blocks. The WolfPack were led Richelle Walton (Langley, B.C.) with 17 kills, 15 digs and three service aces, Amanda Frayne (Kamloops, B.C.) with 16 kills, 12 digs and three service aces and Anna Dyakiewicz (Burnaby, B.C.) with 14 kills and eight digs.
The WolfPack powered their way to a 26-24 first set win on the balanced attack that accumulated 17 kills. Thompson Rivers started strong and jumped out to an 8-4 lead at the first break. The Spartans got going and tied the set at 15-15 after Julie Koepke (Vancouver) and Foth blocked the WolfPack's Frayne. TRU got the next two points and then carried the lead until TWU rallied to tie the set at 22-22. After four side-outs the WolfPack's had back-to-back kills by Dyakiewicz to take the first set.
TWU got things sorted out in the second set. Foth had five kills as the Spartans controlled the set from start to finish. TWU led 8-5 at the first break and 16-11 at the second before closing out the set 25-17 on a Koepke kill down the line and off the WolfPack's back row defender. TWU finished with a solid 18 for 18 on side out opportunities, while TRU finished at 17-24.
The Spartans carried their strong play into the third set. The led 8-4 and 16-10 on their way to a 25-16 win to take a 2-1 lead. The Spartans dominated the set by out-blocking the WolfPack four to nothing and out hitting TRU 42 percent (16-0-38) to eight percent (10-7-36).
The fourth set was tight from the start as the WolfPack looked to change their fortunes from repeating last night's result. TRU had an 8-6 lead at the first break and 16-15 at the second. It looked like the WolfPack got the separation that they needed after a kill by Walton put TRU up 20-17. But the Spartans rallied and tied the match at 23-23 after Koepke and Kara Jansen Van Doorn (Langley, B.C.) blocked TRU's Frayne. After four side out balls the WolfPack got on a kill by Walton and an attack by Dayna Jansen Van Doorn that just missed the side line to give TRU a 27-25 win.
The Spartans came out flying in the fifth set. TWU's Koepke blocked Walton to put the Spartans up 8-4 at the changeover. The four point lead was all TWU would need as Keanne Tome (Delta, B.C.) served three straight to give the Spartans the set 15-9 and the match 3-2. It was Tome's final conference match at TWU and she ended it with an exclamation mark with her final point coming off of a service ace.
The Spartans are now on the road to finish Canada West Conference play. TWU will play in Brandon next Friday and Saturday and then travel to Saskatoon to finish of conference play on Jan. 30 and 31.
Match Notes: TWU finished hitting at 28 percent (66-15-177), while TRU finished at 17 percent (64-32-192)...the Spartans out-blocked the WolfPack 13 to three, while TRU had the edge in service aces 7-4...With 22 points TWU is in a third place tie with UBC (11-5), Brandon (11-5) and Manitoba (11-7). They all trail second place Calgary (12-4) by two points and first place Alberta (14-4) by six points...Regina (9-7) is in seventh place with 18 points. Top seven make play-offs with number one team getting a bye to Canada West final four.
(with assistance from Trinty Western Sports Information)