The morale of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s volleyball program continues to grow as they inch towards the start of the 2014-15 Canada West regular season. The WolfPack swept both their exhibition matches this weekend and extended their unbeaten streak to four. On Saturday (Sept 27), the WolfPack downed the Capilano University Blues of North Vancouver, BC (PACWEST) 3-0. The scores at the Tournament Capital Centre were 25-9,25-19, 25-16. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="386"] WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm lightens the mood (Allen Douglas photo)[/caption] WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm got another opportunity to try another line up combination. “Most people got to get in a little bit which was nice. We were a little up and down and it was hard to hold the intensity. Overall, we took care of business.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="405"] Alyssa Wolf is one of the newer WolfPack (Brent Dunlop photo)[/caption] One of the lineup changes saw Alyssa Wolf (4th year, South Surrey, BC) move from the outside hitter position (where she played in PACWEST last year with Vancouver Island University) to the libero position. “ She is a strong back court presence and has good leadership abilities and takes care of the back row, “ stated Grimm. “ She can swing too. It is a little bit different at the CIS level but a bigger bock but I think she could be effective in that role (outside hitter) as well. “ Wolf had nine digs. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="375"] Julia Niemczewska serves in this match (Allen Douglas photo)[/caption] Another player garnering praise from Grimm was third year middle Julia Niewmczewska (Calgary, AB). “ I thought she did a good job in the middle. That is going to be an option for us. We got Katie (Woo, 3rd year, setter, Coquitlam, BC) some action and she got some experience. Kat (Katarina Legutky, 3rd year, outside hitter, Calgary, AB) got in….Carly (Gunter, 1st year, libero, Courtenay, BC) had some good serves. It just gives me more to think about as we get closer to the league.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="385"] Iuliaa Pakhomenko with the kill (Allen Douglas photo)[/caption] TRU was led offensively by Iuliia Pakhomenko (3rd year, outside hitter, Donetsk, Ukraine) with 10 kills in 24 swings. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="401"] Kara Twomey serves in this match (Allen Douglas photo)[/caption] Kara Twomey (3rd year, setter, Winnipeg, MB) had 22 assists. Brianne Rauch (3rd year, outside hitter, Kimberley, BC) had nine kills in 17 chances and a team high 10 digs. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="375"] former WolfPack player Kira Sutcliffe (left)[/caption] Capilano was led by former WolfPack player Kira Sutcliffe who had seven kills in 31 chances. Sarah Hughes had 11 assists while Sutcliffe and Mika Chow had a team high eight digs. The Blues are led by former TRU women’s coach Cal Wohlford and former ‘Pack player and assistant coach Lauren Stockstad. “ I have fond memories of Kamloops. It is good to see Chad doing an excellent job with the team. “ [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Capilano during time out[/caption] Wohlford says the preparation for his team is behind that of TRU, partially because of a lack of gym time. “We are about 12 practices behind TRU and that showed tonight. We had glimpses of good things that are happening with us. It is good for us to play against a good caliber team like TRU. It will give us a lot of things to work on. We are looking to be one of the top teams in the PACWEST. I am a coach who likes to work hard in the beginning so we can be the team to beat at the end.” The Blues open their PACWEST season in a couple of weeks. Wohlford says he wants his team to become more consistent before that. “I am not worried, we just need to work hard to achieve our goals.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] shaking hands after the match[/caption] The WolfPack will head to UBC to play in the “Best of the West” tournament beginning Friday (Oct 3). TRU opens its Canada West regular season on October 10 th at the Langley Events Centre against the Trinity Western University Spartans. The first home match is set for Friday October 24 th at the Tournament Capital Centre. The opposition will be the UBC Thunderbirds. Game time is 6 pm. SIDE OUTS: Wohlford can lay credit to helping this year’s editon of the WolfPack by aiding Grimm recruit Wolf and Krista Hogewoning (4th year, outside hitter, Delta, BC). Both played in the PACWEST against him last year. “It is one of those things. When you coach at a certain spot you develop certain ties. I have some ties here (TRU). I am all about developing volleyball. I believe that Kamloops is a good place and this is a great university. I am grooming a couple of more players to come here in the future. That is what its all about—being a feeder.” On the TRU side: assistant coaches Sara Pettersson and Robbyn Dalin both coached at Capilano University last season. Pettersson played out her University eligibility at Cap after playing two years at Thompson Rivers.