[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] Gabby Fortin and Katie Woo played high school volleyball together (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] The pre-season comes to a close for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s volleyball team this weekend. The WolfPack are on the road in Langley taking part in the “Best of the West”  exhibition series. The WolfPack will play a number of other CIS squads in exhibition matches—including Trinity Western, UBC, York, Alberta and Regina. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] Keith Lundgren-WolfPack head coach (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] “This is our fourth exhibition weekend and we are looking forward to it,” said TRU head coach Keith Lundgren. “We have been stressing defense since the opening week of training camp,” he says. “ It is getting better with time.  We are serving and passing a lot but defense has been out main focus. It is a new group with who is on the court with Morgan (Kolasa, 1^st year, middle, Calgary, AB) and Bri (Brianne Rauch, 2^nd year, outside hitter, Kimberly, BC) back out there.  We have  been practicing hard and getting better every day.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] Morgan Kolasa (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] Despite that, Lundgren says they will be concentrating more on offense this weekend. “We are talking a bit now about getting the ball down and those types of things,” he states. “ trying to get them to see the block and the floor a little better and faster.  That is what we are looking at this weekend-our ability to generate kills.” Lundgren says every day has been fun to go to practice for both himself and the players.  He says the return of Rauch and Kolasa will mean a lot to his team’s fortunes come the start of the Canada West season.  [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] Brianne Rauch (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] “Both are really motivated,” he said. “Bri is really working hard on hitting and passing. She passed 50 to 60 percent some times higher last exhibition weekend in Regina. Morgan is doing great. She is so versatile at the net and can hit anywhere.  She is very passionate and brings the celebration and energy that we need. It is fantastic to have them back. They are so coachable and they are the driving forces behind the upbeat practices and belief about the team this year.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] Katarina Legutky (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] The ‘Best of the West” event begins Friday night (Oct 4) and winds up Sunday (Oct 6). The WolfPack kick off their 2013-14 Canada West regular season on Friday October 25 th at home to the UBCO Heat.  Game time is 7 pm at the Tournament Capital Centre.