WOLFPACK WVB FINISH PRE-CHRISTMAS SEASON WITH WIN
For immediate release: November 29, 2008
Kamloops-The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Women’s Volleyball team has equalled their entire win total from 2007-08. The WolfPack captured their fourth victory of the Canada West season, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in 5 games. The scores at the Tournament Capital Center were 24-26,22-25,25-15,25-13,15-10.
“We struggled the first two sets,” stated TRU head coach Cal Wohlford. “ We were trying to find ourselves a bit. We did some good things but we were haunted by our errors. I think we finally got mad and said to ourselves –“We can do this.” We got a lead in the third set. After that I thought, we could do this.”
The WolfPack got monster games out of middle Lykke Degner (2nd year, Copenhagen, Denmark), outside hitter Richelle Walton (5 th year, Langley, BC) and 2nd year Amanda Frayne (Kamloops, BC). Frayne, normally an outside hitter was moved to the right side.
“I was so nervous,” said Frayne “ I tried to think about my job and what I had to do. And for the most part, that’s what I had to do.”
Walton had 17 kills, Frayne had 16 while Degner and Anna Dyakiewicz (2nd year, outside hitter, Burnaby, BC) contributed 14 kills.
Stine Christainsen (2nd year, setter, Ribe, Denmark) had 41 assists. Libero Laura Plouffe (5 th year, Sherwood Park, Alta) had 17 digs.
“I think our bench did a good job in crucial times.” Stated Wohlford. “ I thought Lindsay (Niminiken, 4 th year setter, South Slocan, BC) came in and got some rhythm going for us in the second set. We should have won that second set. It was a key thing in the sense that it got the other players get into the match.”
“I agree that the third set was the key,” said Walton, who made some key kills throughout the match. “We came out with a sense of urgency. It was almost an instant change: this was do or die. Everyone showed up.”
“Thompson came out with an attitude that they believed they could win and they backed it up with their actions,” Huskie coach Leslie Irie said “ They were very, very aggressive and actually had chances to win in both those first two sets, but we found a way to win. That didn’t phase them at all and they got stronger.”
“We were too inconsistent,” continued Irie “We thought sets one and two were really good composure wise. We didn’t panic when we were down. After 21 we were pretty consistant. But then the momentum switched and they took our game away doing a great job on the outside.”
Saskatchewan was led by Shannon Usher. (5 th year, left side, Moose Jaw, Sask). She had 18 kills and 17 digs. Sara Nelubowich (2nd year, setter, Stony Plain, Alta) had 40 assists.
The win puts the WolfPack at 4 wins and 8 losses. “To match our record from last year in one semester is pretty big for us, “ explained Frayne “ To be in contention for a playoff spot….we needed the win to stay there. We’ll be working harder over the holidays and come back in 2009 strong.”
The Huskies fall to 2 and 8 on the season.