KAMLOOPS, BC—The WolfPack got off to a great start but wound up losing to the University of Calgary Dinos in Canada West men's volleyball play Halloween night (Oct 31) on the Warner Rentals Court at the Tournament Capital Centre.
TRU (1-5) won the first two sets but fell in five to the unbeaten Dinos (6-0). The scores were 16-25,19-25,25,16,25-22,15-12.
"I thought the guys battled hard tonight but again we were stuck in some lulls," said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. "I have to give Calgary credit. They switched their setter up. He switched the offense up and it took us a long time to react. We got a little tight in that fifth set. It is unfortunate because we certainly played a great match."
"This was a big character builder for us," stated Dinos coach Rod Durrant. "To go down 2-0. A couple of guys came in and did a good job. Our setter change really worked for us. Then Brendan Visser (5th year, outside hitter, Calgary, AB) came in and played the left side and did a very good job of improving our serve/receive. Just a good team win. The guys played. We didn't worry about the outcome.
Visser wound up with four kills in 10 chances with four digs.
Durrant took out starting setter Jackson Maris (5th year, Edson, AB) after the third set and replaced him with Alex Cook (4th year ,Chestermere, AB) which had an effect. "I am just comfortable with both guys. Alex is a fourth year guy and has proven he can play at this level. We felt a different look with a different setter was needed. It worked out."
Maris wound up with 10 assists, three digs and two block assists. Cook had 30 assists, four digs, a solo block and two block assists.
Calgary was led offensively by Curtis Stockton with 20 kills in 45 chances with a service ace, seven digs, two solo blocks and three block assists. Ian Kartev had 10 kills in 16 chances with a service ace, a dig, one solo block and five block assists.
TRU was led by Brad Gunter (5th year, outside hitter, Courtenay, BC). He had 25 kills in 40 chances with a service ace, 13 digs, a solo block and three block assists.
"Brad had a great night," Hennelly added. "Daniel (Eikland Rod, 4th year, outside hitter, Oz, Norway) and Randy (Grundmann, 3rd year, outside hitter, Winnipeg, MB) both had great nights. It is not how the cards are falling right now. We really have to get better at switching gears."
Rod had 11 kills in 28 opportunities with a service ace, and three digs. Grundman wound up with 16 kills in 30 chances with six digs and a block assist.
Graham Stoliker (5th year, setter, Surrey, BC) had 49 assists, three service aces, six digs and one block assists.
Both teams hit the road next week (Nov 6-7). TRU visits Winnipeg while Calgary goes to Vancouver, BC to play UBC.
