BOX SCORE KAMLOOPS, BC—Volleyball fans of Kamloops can't say they didn't get their money's worth this weekend when they took in the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack and the University of Calgary Dinos.
For the second straight match, the two teams went five sets. Unfortunately for fans of the 'Pack, they leave the Tournament Capital Centre disappointed. TRU has suffered their first loss of the young Canada West season falling 3-2 to the Dinos. The scores were 25-22, 20-25, 18-25, 33-31,15-8.
The WolfPack are now 3 and 1 while Calgary evens its record at 2 and 2.
"We have played four matches this fall and all of them have gone five," grinned Calgary coach Rod Durrant afterwards. "We are getting used to that long battle. I am very proud how we came back to save the fourth and come out with a win is a character thing."
Durrant agreed that the fourth set could have gone either way with both teams not looking like they wanted to win and then desperately trying to get the victory. "It's a funny game that way at times. Both teams try to be a little hard to be too perfect. I am just happy that we pulled out the win. Our guys showed a lot of character to hang in there and find a way."
"The fourth set saw us up 23-21 and we made three mental mistakes," said TRU coach Pat Hennelly. " They kept missing serves. They kept giving us ways to win. We put us in a position to win. We had ample opportunities to do that and it didn't seem we wanted it . It is frustrating. That would have put us at 4 and 0 and set the plate for our best start ever."
Calgary was led by Greg Mann with 27 kills in 52 chances. Darcee Froese had 13 kills in 25 opportunities and a team high eight digs. Jackson Maris had 30 assists.
For TRU: Brad Gunter had another monster match. He had 26 kills in 53 swings with six digs and three block assists. Casey Knight had 11 kills in 23 chances with four service aces, six digs and two block assists. Philip Ozari had 10 kills in 30 chances with one service ace, four digs and three block assists.
Colin Carson was named the "McDonalds/TRU Bookstore Leader of the Pack Player of the Match" with 52 assists, 10 digs, two service aces, one solo block and two block assists.
Both teams are on the road in Canada West play next weekend (Nov 8-9). TRU visits UBC while Calgary moves into Regina.
