BOBCATS DRAW FIRST BLOOD IN CW QF WITH WOLFPACK MVB February 27, 2010
Posted by lread in Men's Volleyball.add a comment
Gord Perrin setting ball (A. Snucins photo)
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack started out slowly but gained momentum in the first game of their Canada West Men’s Volleyball Quarter Final with the home town Brandon University Bobcats tonight (Feb 26).
However, it was the Bobcats who held onto win the match 3-1. The scores were 25-17,25-22,11-25,25-22. Match number two is set for Saturday (Feb 27) at the Brandon University Gym.
“We played poorly at first and slowly got better,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “We missed a few served and assignments at the end but played well in the third and fourth sets.
The first set saw Hennelly try to throw a curve ball into the Brandon preparation by starting 5 th year Behlul Yavasgel (Aydin, Turkey) at libero. Unfortunately, TRU hit .031 for an attack per centage in that set. Yavasgel did have seven digs in that set for TRU. He wound up with 12 for the match.
Paul Sanderson (4th year, outside hitter, Melbourne, Australia) had seven of his match high 22 kills in that set. Sanderson wound up with five digs as well.
In the second set, Brandon rolled out to a 16-13 lead and although the WolfPack tried to close the margin, couldn’t. Sanderson had eight kills for TRU while Gord Perrin (3rd year, outside hitter, Creston, BC) had seven kills in the match to that point. He wound up with 21 kills.
The third set saw TRU score the first four points and lead 8-5 at the break. It was their first lead of the match.
Hennelly said he didn’t say much to his veterans between the second and third sets “ They focused on other things but started to play better.’
Kevin Tillie (1st year, left side, Cagnes Sur Mer, France) had 12 kills and three service aces.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s match, Hennelly said: “We need to be more stable early and get into a system and run our game plan. We also need to remember blocking assignments late in the game are important.”
TRU utilized three liberos in the match: Yavasgel, Kyle Donen (4th year, White Rock, BC) and Spencer Reed (1st year, Prince George, BC).
If a third match is needed in the best of three series, it would be played Sunday (Feb 28) in Brandon.
TRU WOLFPACK ATHLETICS: PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2010 CIS MENS NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS-MARCH 12-14 TH TOURNAMENT CAPITAL CENTER, KAMLOOPS BC.
WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index http://francais.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index
WOLFPACK HOCKEY LOSES FIRST ON HOME ICE February 27, 2010
Posted by lread in Men's Hockey.add a comment
Brock Fraser behind net (A. Snucins photo)
The WolfPack have written themselves quite a story in their first season in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League. Going into their game tonight (Fri Feb 26), the team was unbeaten in ten home games.
Switching venues from the smaller Memorial Arena to the large Interior Savings Center (home of the Western Hockey League Kamloops Blazers), the WolfPack saw their streak come to an end as they were beaten by the University of Fraser Valley 3-1.
The victory drops the TRU record to 15 and 8 as they saw a two game winning streak snapped. UFV is now 13 and 8 in the season.
“ I don’t think they out played us,” said WolfPack head coach Chris Hans. “I think we were too tentative. We played too much on the outside. We didn’t get to the front of the net as much as we could. We outshot them (48-19) but most of them were from outside the perimeter. When we did get the puck to the net, we didn’t get guys crashing the net for the rebound.”
After a scoreless first period, UFV got on the board at 10:30 of the second stanza when Robert Vos (3rd year, forward, Abbotsford, BC), the BCIHL’s leading scorer cashed in when he went to the net and beat TRU goalie Brock Fraser (1st year, Kamloops, BC).
UFV came out strong to start the third period and scored 28 seconds into the stanza when Simon Brouwer (3rd year, forward, Winnipeg, Man) put the puck past Fraser.
TRU put on its strongest effort of the game in the final four minutes. Jassi Sangha (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) finally solved Adam Postmus (1st year, Fruitvale, BC). Daniel Robinson (2nd year, forward, 100 Mile House, BC) and Kevin Hanna (1st year, forward, Cloverdale,BC) drawing the assists.
UFV salted the game away on a disputed goal at 19:37. The ‘Pack had pulled Fraser and the TRU defender had run into the linesman allowing Matt Ehrenreich ( 1st year, forward, Abbotsford, BC) to literally shovel it into the yawning cage. TRU claimed afterwards that Ehenreich gloved the puck ahead. It was his third point of the night (goal and two assists.)
”That was an atrocious non-call by the referee,” Hans claimed. “The fact of the matter was that we only scored one goal. That’s what happens when you play on the outside and don’t play a physical game and pay the price for your teammates.”
Hans admits he is a bit concerned with his teams lack of consistency going into the BCIHL playoffs in March. “ We have to dig down and pay the price to win.”
The WolfPack close out the BCIHL regular season Saturday (Feb 27) back at Memorial Arena against UFV. Puck drop is 8:45 pm.
WOLFPACK VS BRANDON: MVB RIVLARY RENEWED February 25, 2010
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Gord Perrin (A. Snucins photo)
It will certainly be a character building experience for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team this weekend. Pat Hennelly and his squad will be travelling to Brandon to take on the Bobcats in the Canada West quarterfinals. If the travel to Brandon from Kamloops isn’t going to wear on them, Hennelly expects a hostile crowd at Brandon’s University Gym to provide a challenge.
“We had a good crowd when they were out here,” said Hennelly referring to the Bobcat’s visit to the Tournament Capital Center last month (January 23-24 where TRU swept 3-0 and 3-2). “ They were loud with our ‘Varsity Night’ and it seemed to get the Brandon coaching staff upset. I think they will be rallying the troops out there and it will be a big crowd in Brandon. It’ll be a real intense atmosphere for our young guys.”
The Bobcats finished the regular season in third place in the Canada West (12-6 record). TRU finished seventh (10-8).
Hennelly expects the best of three quarterfinal to go the distance.
Brandon’s Gym is one of the smallest in the Canada West. TRU has been practicing half the season in their old facility, which mirrors that of Brandon. Hennelly says while it will take a bit of an adjustment to get used to it, his squad won’t feel that out of place in the ‘smaller ‘venue.
“We are very comfortable in that gym,’ said Hennelly “With 50 per cent of our practices at the TRU facility, we should have little difficulty adapting. Brandon is a very strong team at home and with the crowd it should be a challenging place to play.”
These games will be the fourth, fifth and maybe sixth times the two schools have met in the post season. Last year (2009-10), Brandon knocked off TRU in the Canada West Semi finals 3-1 (scores: 33-35,25-20,25-13,25-19). The year previous, TRU went into Brandon and swept the Bobcats in two straight in the Canada West Quarterfinals in three straight games both nights (scores: 25-21,25-23,25-21 the first night and 25-23,25-22,25-20 the second).
This year’s series sees the top three Canada West kills and points leaders involved. Brandon’s Paul Sanderson (4th year, left side, Melbourne, Australia) had 368 kills in 71 sets, 30 serving aces, eight solo blocks and 21 block assists for 416.5 points to lead the league. TRU’s Gord Perrin (3rd year, outside hitter, Creston, BC) was second with 309 kills in 66 sets. He had 11 service aces, 13 solo blocks and 18 block assists for 342 points. While the WolfPack’s Kevin Tillie (1st year, left side, Cagnes Sur Mer, France) had 250 kills in 67 sets with 30 service aces, 4 solo blocks and 22 block assists for 295 points.
“The key to success will be the team which performs best under pressure,” adds Hennelly. “We think we might have a little less pressure because we have a bye to Nationals. But, we are going in there trying to win our way. Both teams have young, new guys who have never been to playoffs. How they perform on the big stage will determine who will win.”
The matches are set for Friday (Feb 26) and Saturday (Feb 27) at 7 pm with the third and deciding match, if needed set for Sunday (Feb 28) at 2pm.
SERIES NOTES: TRU holds a commanding 7-1 lead in regular season matches between the two teams. Other players to watch in the series will be WolfPack rookie setter Colin Carson (Prince George, BC) and Brandon’s Jonathon Sloane (3rd year, middle, Winchester, Ont). Carson led the Canada West in Assists with 722 in 67 sets for an average of 10.78 per set. Sloane was fourth in the Canada West in hitting percentage (70 games, 122 kills, 25 errors for 2333 points and a percentage of .416).
TRU WOLFPACK ATHLETICS: PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2010 CIS MENS NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS-MARCH 12-14 TH TOURNAMENT CAPITAL CENTER, KAMLOOPS BC.
WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index http://francais.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index
BASEBALL TO LANGLEY FOR EXHIBITION DOUBLEHEADERS February 25, 2010
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Jimmy Semaschuk has been swinging a hot bat of late for TRU (A. Snucins photo)
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Baseball team will play their first games in Canada this calendar year. After conducting spring training in both California and Arizona, the WolfPack will be heading to Langley to meet the Blaze senior team in a pair of doubleheaders Friday (Feb 26) and Saturday (Feb 27).
WolfPack head coach Ray Chadwick is taking a no nonsense approach to the four contests. “ Every game is important and played to win regardless of who and where we are playing as well as whether it’s a preseason contest or a regular season “.
The WolfPack were to have gone to Victoria this weekend, but it was postponed. Chadwick is happy to get the games against the Blaze, but was looking forward to a trip to Vancouver Island. “ We have five guys that would have been able to play at home.”
Chadwick is looking at this weekend as one where his team improves on its defense and cuts down on strikeouts at the plate.
The WolfPack head coach is looking at his pitching staff as being his Achilles heel to begin the season. “We are minus a few arms,” says Chadwick. “ I was really pleased with the guys stepping up and doing adequate jobs on the mound during our Arizona trip.”
Going into the weekend, Chadwick says two of his veteran players Tyler Lowey (1st base, 2nd year,Calgary, Alta) and Jimmy Semeschuk (1st base/DH, 2nd year, Whitehorse, YT) as those who have been swinging the bat of well late.
The WolfPack and Blaze play two games starting Friday at 3:30 pm and Saturday beginning at 10 am.
TRU doesn’t see action in Kamloops until Sunday, March 21 st when they entertain Kwantlen Polytechnic Eagles in an exhibition doubleheader at Norbrock Stadium.
TRU WOLFPACK ATHLETICS: PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2010 CIS MENS NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS-MARCH 12-14 TH TOURNAMENT CAPITAL CENTER, KAMLOOPS BC.
WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index http://francais.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index
TRU WOLFPACK BASEBALL: PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2010 CANADIAN COLLEGE BASEBALL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES-MAY 13-15 TH AT NORBROCK STADIUM, KAMLOOPS, BC
WOLFPACK HOCKEY CLOSES OUT REGULAR SEASON AT HOME TO UFV February 25, 2010
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Jassi Sangha about to score goal vs SFU (A. Snucins photo)
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack are hoping to keep their streak intact as they enter the final weekend of the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League regular season. The WolfPack have never been beaten on home ice in their first year in the BCIHL. They want to keep that streak alive asa they entertain the University of the Fraser Valley. The two teams will play Friday night (Feb 26) at the Interior Savings Center and Saturday night (Feb 27) at Memorial Arena.
This weekend’s series is a battle of the second place team in the BCIHL (TRU at 15 wins and seven losses: 30 points) and the third place squad (UFV with 12 wins and eight losses for 24 points).
“This will be a good set-up going into the Championship Tournament,” says ‘Pack head coach Chris Hans. Both teams have qualified for post season play.
The WolfPack enter the weekend coming off a pair of lopsided victories over Selkirk College. UFV has won two of their last three outings, but lost last weekend to first place SFU (3-0 on Fri Feb 19).
UFV sport the top two scorers in the BCIHL. Robert Vos (forward, Abbotsford, BC) has 20 goals and 29 assists in 20 games. Those 49 points are five ahead of teammate Matt Ehrenreich (forward, Abbotsford, BC) (15 goals and 29 assists in 20 games).
Jassi Sangha (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) is third in league scoring and tops among TRU players with 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points in 21 games. Joel Leonard (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) of the WolfPack is sixth in scoring (22 games-17 goals and 22 assists for 34 points). That is one ahead of teammate Jose Reyes (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC). Reyes has 19 goals and 14 assists for 33 points in 22 games.
“Jassi and Jose are having offensive success this year,” states Hans. “ Both are exceptional skaters and when they add a strong work ethic, are difficult players for opponents to stop.”
Hans expects the weekend to see his team pay more attention to the defensive side of the game “UFV is an offensively explosive team,’he says. We will have to be defensively responsible and willing to compete hard to be successful.”
These will be the third and fourth meetings of the season between the two squads. UFV beat TRU 7-2 on October 30 th. TRU came back to beat UFV 6-5 on November 2 1st.
The Game Friday (Feb 26) was moved from Sunday because of a conflict with the Gold Medal men’s hockey game at the Olympics. It’ll be played in the Interior Savings Center: the home of the Western Hockey League Kamloops Blazers and seats 58 hundred people. The game Saturday will be back at the ‘Pack’s home rink of Memorial Arena. Game time Friday is 8:15 pm. Saturday’s tilt has an 8:45 pm start time.
There could be a large crowd on hand on Friday as the TRU Recreation Department has a “Weekend Warrior” promotion going.
The League Championship series will be held in Langley on March 18-21 st.
TRU WOLFPACK ATHLETICS: PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2010 CIS MENS NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS-MARCH 12-14 TH TOURNAMENT CAPITAL CENTER, KAMLOOPS BC.
WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index http://francais.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index