WolfPack Drop Five Setter To Hawai’i In Exhibition Men’s Volleyball

The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have ended their two match exhibition tour of Hawai’i with a five set defeat at the hands of the NCAA Division I Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors.  The teams decided to play five sets regardless of the outcome of the first four.  The Warriors won 3-2.  The scores on Saturday (Jan 4) were 25-18,24-26,25-17,25-20,23-25.

WolfPack vs Hawai’i (Zita Cup Choy photo)

The teams split the two match series.

Head coach Pat Hennelly (Andrew Snucins photo)

“We weren’t as focused as we were the other night,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “ Whether it was the sightseeing or the heat, our serving dipped and we had 24 service errors-12 more than we had on Thursday.”

Randy Grundmann (Andrew Snucins photo)

Added Hennelly: “We agreed before the match to go five sets regardless. We wanted to get all of our players in. They used 17 while we were short handed.”  He cited injuries to Randy Grundmann (1^st year, outside hitter, Winnipeg, MB), Jordan Foote (1^st year middle, Prince George, BC) along with an illness to Stuart Richey (4^th year, outside hitter, Gibsons, BC) and Daniel Eikeland Rod (2^nd year, middle, Os, Norway) being left home after passport problems.

Brad Gunter (Andrew Snucins photo)

TRU was led by Brad Gunter (3^rd year, outside hitter, Courtenay, BC).  He had 21 kills in 30 chances with two service aces and seven digs.

Casey Knight (Andrew Snucins photo)

Casey Knight (4^th year, outside hitter, Salt Spring Island, BC) added 16 kills in 33 opportunities and a service error.   Jacob Tricarico (5^th year, middle, Huntington Beach, CA) had nine kills in 15 swings with two digs, one block and three block assists.

Jacob Tricarico (Andrew Snucins photo)

Colin Carson (5^th year, setter, Prince George, BC) had 31 assists while Graham Stroliker (3^rd year, setter, Surrey, BC) added 19 assists.

Graham Stroliker (Andrew Snucins photo)

Hawai’i was led by Sinsa Zarokovic with 10 kills in 14 chances. He had a dig and a block assist.  Joby Ramos had 41 assists while Canadian Brook Sedore(Grand Prairie, AB)  had nine kills in 19 chances for the Rainbow Warriors. He added four digs and two service aces.

Matt Krueger (Andrew Snucins photo)

Hennelly said the tour was a success. “ We had a number of distractions which we knew we would have in comparison to league play. We wouldn’t normally have let our players scuba dive and snorkel on the day of a game but this is a life experience. Our players are mature enough to handle little distractions.  In that way, it was a good preparation for the playoffs.  Although our matches were played in an air conditioned gym, our practice sessions were not. A number of our players suffered from dehydration but again, another character builder for us as we gear up for the playoffs.  Our hosts were gracious—in fact, they held a dinner in our honor after tonight’s match.”

Jacob Tricarico, Colin Carson and Casey Knight in this match (Zita Cup Choy photo)

The WolfPack return home and gear up for the resumption of their Canada West regular season. They meet the Brandon University Bobcats at the Tournament Capital Friday and Saturday (Jan 10-11).  Game time on Friday will be 7:45 pm.