It wasn’t the Valentines Day present that the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team wanted to receive. The WolfPack were hoping for a date to go to the Canada West men’s volleyball final four next weekend (Feb 21-23). But like the child who didn’t get any Valentine’s—they were left disappointed.
Brad Gunter in Game 2 (Andrew Snucins photo)
The WolfPack were beaten 3-0 by the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night (Feb 14) at the Tournament Capital Centre. The scores were 25-19,28-26,25-15. That squares the best of three quarter final series at a game a piece.
Blake Majcher in game 2 (Andrew Snucins photo)
The third and deciding match will be played Saturday (Feb 15) at the TRU Gym. Game time is 7 pm.
After being swept in first match on Thursday (Feb 13), The Huskies came out and scored the first four points of the game thanks to the serves of Bryan Faser(5th year, left side, Saskatoon, SK). He wound up with six kills on the night on 17 opportunities with four digs and five block assists.
“Tonight we had everyone taking turns being good,” said Huskies coach Brian Gavlas. “ Last night, it was a case of everyone taking turns being bad.”
“Clearly nerves were a factor in this one, “ said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “We let some balls drop early in the first set. In the second set, we looked pretty nervous when it was 24-23. Last night if you saw us at that point we were talking and confident. This gym (TRU Gym—smaller than the Tournament Capital Centre where the WolfPack usually plays) becomes claustrophobic. We could play better volleyball than that. I am happy we have one more day of volleyball to play.”
Gunter in this game (Andrew Snucins photo)
The WolfPack were led by Brad Gunter (3rd year, outside hitter, Courtenay, BC) and Casey Knight (4th year, outside hitter, Salt Spring Island, BC). Both had seven kills. Gunter had 23 chances while Knight had 14 swings.
Gunter added three digs and a block assists while Knight had a service ace, four digs and two block assists.
Philip Ozari (Andrew Snucins photo)
Philip Ozari (2nd year, outside hitter, Birkerod, Denmark) had four kills in 12 chances with a service ace, two digs and a block assist.
Casey Knight (Andrew Snucins photo)
Colin Carson in this match (Andrew Snucins photo)
Colin Carson (5th year, setter, Prince George, BC) had 24 assists and seven digs.
Knight in the air in this match (Andrew Snucins photo)
In all three sets, Hennelly pulled both Carson and Gunter off the court in an effort to ignite his team. “ I felt both needed to reset. It is hard when emotions are revving and you don’t have someone consistently releasing the pressure. Last night, Brad consistently got kills and Casey did too. When you are in that mode it makes things easier. Tonight, we struggled on a couple of different aspects. “
Hennelly gave credit to the Huskies. “ I have to give them credit. They were determined to make sure this wasn’t their last night of volleyball.”
Graham Stoliker in game two (Andrew Snucins photo)
Saskatchewan was led by Paul Thomson (4th year, left side, Assiniboia, SK) for the second straight night. He had nine kills in 18 swings with one service ace, seven digs and four block assists.
Tyler Epp (2nd year, middle, Saskatoon, SK) had seven kills in 15 swings with one solo block and six block assists.
Casey Knight watches Saskatchewan’s Emory Wells (Andrew Snucins photo)
Emory Wells (4th year, setter, Winnipeg, MB) had 20 assists.
Saskatchewan had 11 team blocks to TRU’s six.
Mike Hawkins (left) and coach Pat Hennelly (right) before match (Andrew Snucins photo)
SIDE OUTS: Before the contest, The WolfPack paid recognition to Mike Hawkins (Lethbridge, AB). After spending two years as a player with TRU, Hawkins became an assistant coach. He is leaving the program after this season to join the volleyball program at Lethbridge College (Alberta College Athletic Conference).