Image Credit: Andrew Snucins
October 30, 2016 - 1:04 PM
KAMLOOPS - The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack proved that they can play with the ‘big boys’ in Canada West men’s volleyball. The WolfPack lost a 3-1 decision to the top ranked team in USports: the University of Alberta Golden Bears.
But the ‘Pack hung tight with Alberta. The scores on the Warner Rentals court at the Tournament Capital Centre on Saturday night (Oct 29) were 25-18,18-25,25-17,27-25.
SYNOPSIS:
The Bears were given a scare in the both the second and third sets. Alberta had 16 service errors in comparison to TRU’s 13. Alberta was led by Ryan Nickifor (5th year, outside hitter, Sherwood Park, AB) for the second straight night. He had 17 kills in 38 swings. TRU’s main offensive weapon was Tim Edge (3rd year, outside hitter, Langley, BC). Edge had 11 kills in 25 chances.
KEY STATS:
ALBERTA
Ryan Nickifor (Sherwood Park,AB) 17 kills in 38 swings , dix digs, four block assists and one service ace
Chris Towe (Caledon, ON) 13 kills in 29 chances, three digs, three assists
Alex McMullin (Brisbane, AUS) 10 kills in 21 opportunities: two service aces, two digs, two block assists
Brett Walsh (Calgary, AB) 49 assists, one service ace, three digs
TRU
Tim Edge (Langley, BC) 11 kills in 25 chances one dig, one block assit
Randy Grundmann (Winnipeg, MB) 8 kills on 21 chances, four digs, two solo blocks and two block assists
Tyler Pomietlarz (Kelowna, BC) 31 assists, four digs, one block assist)
RECORDS:
Alberta 2-0
TRU 0-2
“After the way things went last night (a 3-0 loss to Alta), it would have been really easy to come into tonight and expect the same result. For a young team we showed a lot of resolve. Even though they jumped on us in the first set, we did a great job bouncing back. It was a pretty good brawl,” TRU interim head coach Mike Hawkins says.
“A set like that in a match like this shows our guys of what we are capable of. Alberta is certainly a strong team. They are the number one team in the country but they are also a very veteran team. You expect them to be quite good at the beginning of the season. For us as a young group and developing, to have this sort of effort and result show us that even though we didn’t get the result, we have improved but there is a long way to go," Hawkins says.
“It felt really good. Obviously we didn’t get the outcome we wanted but it felt like we were connected and flowing. Even though we didn’t win, we can take that positive feeling into next week,” TRU Middle Sam Taylor Parks says.
UP NEXT:
Next week (Nov 4-5), Alberta is idle while the WolfPack pay a visit to Brandon to take on the Bobcats. Next home match for the WolfPack will be Friday, Nov. 11 when they will meet up with the Mount Royal University Cougars. Game time will be 7:45pm.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016