WVB WITH A RECORD SETTING NIGHT VS BRANDON
(Richelle Walton)
For immediate release: January 17, 2009
Kamloops-It was a night of ‘firsts’ for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Women’s Volleyball team. For the first time in their four year history in the CIS, the WolfPack defeated a ranked team and at the same time, established a new franchise record for wins in a single season.
The WolfPack downed the Brandon University Bobcats in five sets. The scores were 25-20,25-20,23-25,25-15,20-18. The Bobcats were ranked third in the most recent CIS top 10 rankings. TRU improves to 5 and 9 on the year. Brandon falls to 10 and 4.
“I thought we came out very focused and very determined,” said WolfPack head coach Cal Wohlford. “We won the first set, played well in the second but had lapses. We took the third set. The fourth was where he had problems. We were tied at nine and we let it get away. That was crucial going into the fifth set.”
Wohlford said he gave his team a pep talk before the final set. “ I told them that I believe in them. It was now time for them to show everybody else that they believe in themselves and each other. We finally got over that hurdle and I think only good things will come.”
In the final set, the score never went higher than four in favor of one team: and that was TRU. The ‘Pack scored the final two points to salt away the victory.
“When we play well and are on track, we are one of the top teams in Canada,” said Wohlford. “We showed Brandon two nights in a row that we were right with them”
Michella Domo (3rd year middle, New Westminster, BC) was named the “Subway Leader of the Pack” player of the game for some key kills and serves. She had 12 kills and two service aces.
“It took a while for her to get into a groove,” said Wohlford of Domo, whom he coached in the past in ‘club volleyball’. “ It took a while for her to get focused. The Christmas break was good for her. She came in focused. Tonite’s performance was a culmination of hard work and a good attitude. She wants to be on the court and she is doing the right things to stay out there.”
Amanda Frayne (2nd year, outside hitter, Kamloops, BC) and Richelle Walton (5 th year, outside hitter, Langley, BC) had 13 kills each. There were four TRU players in double figures for kills. Stine Christainsen (2nd year, setter, Ribe, Denmark) had 50 assists. Anna Dyakiewicz (2nd year, outside hitter, Burnaby, BC) had 19 digs. The ‘Pack had five players with 11 or more digs.
For Brandon, they had four players in double figure kills led by Teagen Hunter (3rd yar, right side, Brandon, Man) with 15. They had four players with 14 or more digs led by Hunter with 17. Erin-visch-Krahn (4 th year, middle, Winnipeg, Man) had 16. Setter Becky Young (3rd year, Souris, Man) had another strong night with 45 assists.
Bobcat coach Lee Carter felt his club was streaky. He gave full credit to TRU for the victory. “When the game was on the line, they got a couple of extra digs and they were better than us tonite.”
Carter looked at the weekend split like this: “We are 10 and 4 now. We are doing OK. We need one more win to lock up a playoff spot. From here it needs to be a building point. The great thing about Canada West is that every team can play. The WolfPack showed that despite their record, they could play. It was awesome for them”.
SIDE OUTS: For the second straight night, over 300 people took in the WolfPack Women’s match. The WolfPack take on the Spartans at Trinity Western next weekend (Jan 23-24). Brandon goes h ome to host Calgary.