WolfPack men's volleyball make first ever playoffs

By JENNIFER ROBERTSON
February 10 2007

CALGARY - The TRU WolfPack men's volleyball team has secured it's seventh ranked position in Canada West with a 3-2 win over the Calgary Dinos on Saturday. It was a tight match right to the end for the visiting WolfPack men as they were forced to fight back for a win in five sets to confirm their playoff position. The WolfPack women's volleyball team missed out on a playoff spot as they lost to the Dinos 3-1.

The men's match was a fast-paced thriller with big kills and questionable line calls. The first set was close, but the 'Pack had the upper hand as they took the set 25-23. A blow for the 'Pack came in the form of starter Kyle Brewer (White Rock) injuring his finger on a dig and had to leave the game.
 
 

The TRU men's volleyball team celebrating a huge block against Calgary late in the 5th set.

The second set looked just like the first with big plays and big saves when a line call at 24-23 in favour of the 'Pack was overruled by the umpire and the point went to the Dinos. The Dinos took the break and scored two more to take the second set 26-24.

The next two sets were split between the teams as Calgary got the third with 25-20 and the 'Pack the fourth with the same score.

The momentum that the 'Pack had after the fourth carried them into the fifth as they took the match 15-11 and wrote themselves into their first CIS Canada West playoffs.
 
The TRU men's volleyball team celebrating a huge block against Calgary late in the 5th set.
 
 The long match meant that the men had more opportunities for big plays and with 22 kills Robin Schoebel (France) silenced a courtside heckler. Troy Jaggard (Calgary) powered through 19 kills in front of his family and friends. Matt Harris (Edmonton) made attacks look easy as he placed 18 kills at the Dinos' feet. Patrick Johnston (Whitby, ON) made 11 digs while Behlul Yavasgel made nine digs.

The women's match started earlier in the day with a close set that was rallied back and forth in an exciting race with TRU coming out on top at 28-26.

The Calgary Dinos took the first set loss as a challenge and took control of the next three sets.  The second set was a lopsided 13-25 as the WolfPack appeared to unravel. They fought back for a closer 21-25 set for the third, but were finished in the fourth with the final set 17-25.

The women were looking for two straight wins this weekend to stand a chance at a playoff spot. Today's loss has taken them out of contention.

Match highs were Sandra-Joy Unaegbu (Port Coquitlam) with 13 kills, Robyn Devlin (Revelstoke) with 12 kills and four digs, Brenna Adkins (Kamloops) had 10 kills and six digs, Laura Plouffe (Sherwood Park, AB) made 18 digs and setter Kristy Alblas (Richmond) made 13 digs.

The matches resume tomorrow at noon for the women and 2pm for the men in the Jack Simpson Gym at the University of Calgary.

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Report made on the road by Jennifer Robertson, TRU Sports Intern