WVB OFF TO CALIFORNIA FOR PRESEASON TRAINING August 28, 2009
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WolfPack Coach Cal Wohlford
A trip to Southern California before school sounds like a nice idea. But, for members of the Thompson Rivers University women’s volleyball team: they’ll be doing more than just taking in the sights. For the first time in their 5 year CIS history, the WolfPack will be travelling somewhere other than Western Canada to play volleyball.
“It’s something that I wanted to start,” says WolfPack head coach Cal Wohlford. “We are going to get some competition that we don’t usually see and to bond as a team.” Wohlford has personally spent a great deal of time in the area where the ‘Pack are going to be using as their home base (Santa Barbara).
“The area is very volleyball friendly,” he continues. “They have some good programs. The University there is an NCAA school. Even though they have been working out since the beginning of August, they have agreed to play at least one match against us.”
Wohlford says although they will be hitting the warmer climes: it won’t be a holiday. “We plan to train hard on the beach courts there. I’m taking 16 players and there will be four to a room. It won’t be like we’ll be eating at restaurants: we will be holding barbeques every night to save costs.”
The WolfPack head coach says the girls deserve something special. “They work really hard,” he says “ For what they do for the university—committing time and effort, it is a bit of a payback.” He adds that it’ll be a great training exercise. With no less than 8 spots open on this year’s club, the more they train and be together as a team will only help them when they begin the Canada West season in late October.
“I expect that with our team losing as many players as we have this season, we’ll need to rely on each other to be successful. This will be a good chance to start that jelling process.”
The WolfPack leave August 31 st. They will return September 8 th, the first day of Fall Classes.
SIDE OUTS: Wohlford says financially, it was actually cheaper for the WolfPack to fly out of Seattle and go to Santa Barbara instead of doing their traditional pre-season tournament in Saskatoon. The WolfPack coach was a little shocked when two of his returning players: middle Amanda Loree (Armstrong, BC) and Courtney Kaleta (Quesnel, BC) decided not to return to school. Others who won’t be back this year are the two Danes (Stine Christiansen and Lykke Degner), Michella Domo (who is travelling and working in Italy) and last year’s two fifth year players: Laura Plouffe (Sherwood Park, Alta) and Richelle Walton (Langley, BC). Plouffe is expected to join the WolfPack coaching staff this season as she completes her education.
SPARTANS DOWN WOLFPACK MEN IN EXHIBITION SOCCER PLAY August 28, 2009
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Kyle Halvorson heads vs Trinity
The Trinity Western Spartans are one of the top teams in the Canada West Soccer League. The Spartans played like it as they downed the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack 4-1 in exhibition Men’s soccer action in the Fraser Valley on Thursday (Aug 27).
It was the Spartans third exhibition match. For the ‘Pack, who play in the BC College Athletic Association, it was their first.
“We were the victims of some mental breakdowns,” said TRU co-head coach Sean Wallace afterwards. “We missed on a penalty kick in the second half which could have turned the game around. Full credit to the Spartans, they are a good side and they were very fit.”
The Spartans led 1-0 at the half. TRU’s marker came in the 89 th minute off the foot of Casey Cullen (3rd year, Kamloops, BC).
“Our guys came up with a good first effort,” Wallace assessed. “We have been concentrating on our back end in practice. It’s been the cornerstone of our success over the past few years. With the graduation of James Byra (2008 All-Canadian), and with Alan Connor (2 time BCCAA First Team Keeper) moving to SFU, we have some holes to fill.”
Wallace thought the insertion of 5 th year Kyle Bowman (Kamloops, BC) into the center back position has proven to be successful. “It’s a new role for Kyle,” he said. “Kyle has played on the outside before. But he showed a lot of poise and passion out there, showing a lot of confidence.”
Wallace praised the play of his other 5 th year: forward Kyle Halvorson (Armstrong, BC). “He looks healthy and fit.”
Ethan May (2nd year, Kamloops, BC) went the distance in goal. The WolfPack continue their pre-season series with a match against the Alberta College Athletic Association Mount Royal Cougars on Friday (Aug 28). That match has a 2pm PDT kickoff at Willowby Turf Field in Langley.
TRU closes things out with two matches in Abbotsford. Saturday (Aug 29), they take on Vancouver Croatia before finishing their pre-season off with a game against another CIS team: University of Fraser Valley Cascades on Sunday morning. (Aug 30).
THROW INS: The WolfPack open their BCCAA Season Saturday September 5 th against the Capilano University Blues, the defending Provincial and National Champions. Noon at Hillside Stadium.
East Side Marios has come on to sponsor half time matches between Kamloops Youth Soccer Association mini-teams. Unfortunately,due to the holiday weekend, the first matches won’t occur until September 19 th at half time of both men’s and women’s games. The ‘experience’ includes mini-teams getting to meet some of the WolfPack and asking them questions.
DONEN AND PERRIN INTO SEMI FINALS AT CANADA SUMMER GAMES August 27, 2009
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Gord Perrin
It’s onto the semi finals for Team BC at the 2009 Canada Summer Games Men’sa Volleyball Competition.
Team BC—which features two players from Thompson Rivers University—beat Quebec in the Quarterfinals this morning (Aug 27). It was 3-2. The scores were 26-28,26-24,25-20,23-25,15-11.
Outside hitter Gord Perrin (3rd year, Creston, BC) continued his dominance at the competition. Perrin had 19 kills and 11 digs, 1 block and 3 block assists. Libero Kyle Donen (4 th year, White Rock, BC) had 1 kill and 7 digs.
BC is now into the semi finals Friday (Aug 28) against Team Alberta. Alberta finished first in the same pool as BC in the round robin at 4 and 0. BC was 2 and 2. The two teams played in the round robin and Alberta won 3-2. The scores were 25-21, 23-25,25-20, 18-25, 17-15.
Ontario will play Manitoba in the other semi final. The winners of those semi finals will play for the gold and silver medal on Saturday (Aug 29). The losers play for the bronze medal on the same day.
GOLF AND WOMENS VOLLEYBALL SET TRY OUT DATES August 27, 2009
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TRU Golf Team: 2008 CCAA National Champs
Two of Thompson Rivers University’s varsity sports teams have set the date for their open try outs. Cal Wohlford’s women’s volleyball program has set Thursday September 10 th and Friday September 11 th as the dates for his try outs.
“It was very successful last season,” says Wohlford. “ We wound up getting three players (Lindsey Niminikin of Slocan Valley, BC, Courtney Kaleta of Quesnel, BC and Marisa Koch of Groebenzell, Germany) out of the tryouts. The women’s volleyball try outs will be held at the Tournament Capital Center. The try out September 10 th is 430-630 pm. The try out on Friday September 11 from 4-7 pm. Interested athletes are invited to attend.
The Canadian College Athletic Association champion WolfPack Golf team is also holding tryouts. Coach Bill Bilton has set September 8, 9, and 11 as his dates for tryouts. Tee times begin at 2:46 PM each day at the Dunes. “ Potential players can call me at (778)220-4064 or the Dunes (250) 579-3300 to register and will be allowed to practice free from Sept 1 until try outs begin. “ he says.
Baseball, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer have already held their open tryouts.
WOLFPACK MEN’S SOCCER HITS THE ROAD FOR THE COAST FOR FRIENDLIES August 27, 2009
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WolfPack Co-head coach John Antulov
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s soccer squad will see its first match action of 2009 starting tommorrow (Thurs Aug 29). The ‘Pack are heading to the Coast to play four friendlies in four days beginning with a match against the Alberta U-20 selects. That match will be held on the field at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC.
“We are itching to see what our guys can do,” said WolfPack co-head coach Sean Wallace. “After practising the last couple of weeks, it’ll be good to see what game action will bring. We need to determine which players will start and who will red shirt.”
One spot that has been decided is the goal keeper. Ethan May (2nd year, Kamloops, BC) is ready to assume the starting role from two time BCCAA First Team All Star Allan Connor. May got a good taste of the pressure position last season when he wound up playing all the games in the BCCAA Finals.
The WolfPack have two fifth year players: Kyle Bowman (Kamloops, BC) and Kyle Halvorson (Armstrong, BC).
Friday(Aug 28) will see the WolfPack meet the CIS Trinity Western Spartans at 1pm . Saturday (Aug 29), The ‘Pack will do battle with Vancouver Croatia in Abbotsford (2 pm) before wrapping things up Sunday (Aug 30) against the CIS University of Fraser Valley Cascades (11 am).
TRU opens its BCCAA regular season at home Saturday September 5 th against the defending provincial and national champion Capilano University Blues. Kick off is 2 pm.