HUSKIES SNAP WOLFPACK MVB WINNING STREAK AT FOUR January 29, 2010
Posted by lread in Men's Volleyball.trackback
Gord Perrin
Less than a week after winning a five set marathon with the Brandon University Bobcats, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team found themselves going the distance again in Canada West play.
This time in Saskatoon, the WolfPack came out on the short end of a five setter. The hometown Saskatchewan Huskies downed TRU 3-2. The scores on Thursday (Jan 29) were 25-19,17-25,26-24,17-25,20-18). The WolfPack fall to 8 and 7 on the year while Saskatchewan moves to 6 and 7.
“We deserved to lose,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly bluntly “There were stretches in the first and third sets where we looked and played like a tired team. We lost focus and even got on ourselves. My message to the guys afterwards was that we can’t play like that if we want to be successful.”
Hennelly added that Saskatchewan was full credit for the victory. “ They were the better team when we lost our focus. They played like a team which was desperate for a victory. We gave them some life in the third set and they took advantage.”
TRU led the first set 12-8 before the Huskies scored eight points in a row on Alwyn Piche (4th year, left side, La Loche,Sask) serves.
The ‘Pack took an early lead in the second set and lead throughout. They were helped by six Saskatchewan service errors. Hennelly gave credit to 5th year outside hitter/middle Behlul Yavasgel (Aydin, Turkey). “ He made five digs in that set and that was the difference.”
The third set saw Saskatchewan break a 12-12 tie by scoring five points in a row. But, the WolfPack rallied to tie the game at 22.
The fourth set saw Hennelly and company roll to a 6-2 lead early on and never looked back.
Hennelly said the difference in the fifth and final set was his team’s inability to serve. “We missed six serves in that set.” He explained.
Gord Perrin (3rd year, outside hitter, Creston, BC) had a game high 20 kills in 55 chances with six digs and one solo block. Kevin Tillie (1st year, left side, Cagnes Sur Mer, France) continues to impress. He had double digit kills (15) and double digit digs (12). He also added two solo blocks and had two block assists. Robin Schoebel (4th year, outside hitter, Monaco) had 12 kills in 24 chances and three digs. Rookie setter Colin Carson (Prince George, BC) had 43 assists and nine digs.
Saskatchewan was led by Piche and Geoff Zerr (3rd year, middle, Langenburg, Sask) with 12 kills a piece. 5th year setter Cole Hintz (Yorkton, Sask) had 33 assists while Daniel Quintel (5th year, libero, Prince Albert, Sask) had 12 digs.
The WolfPack out dug Saskatchewan 50-48 and out hit them .244 to .149.
Hennelly expects his team to come out with a better showing when the two sides collide on Friday (Jan 29). “ Usually, the team on the road plays better the second day,” he explains. “We need to have some confidence that we didn’t have today. But, we expect them to come out better too. We gave them some life after they got a victory they badly need in order to make the playoffs.”
SERVICE ACES: This was the third match of the Canada West season that the WolfPack have been taken to five games. They lost in five to Calgary on November 14 th and then beat Brandon last Sunday (Jan 24). Both those matches were at the Tournament Capital Center.
The Pack return to the TCC for their final regular season Canada West series on February 12 th and 13 th. The opposition that weekend will be the Trinity Western Spartans.
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