The Canada West women's volleyball season resumes after its Christmas break this week. For the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, they open up the second half of the regular campaign on the road.
They visit the University of Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg for a pair of matches—Friday and Saturday (January 4-5 th). Both teams enter the weekend tied for seventh in the Canada West with 5-7 records.
The road was a difficult place to play for the WolfPack in the first half of the season as they went 1-5. This weekend is the start of a four match home stand for the Bisons. They entertain the UBCO Heat at the Investors Group Athletic Centre next weekend (Jan 11-12). The Pack return home after this weekend to entertain the Mount Royal University Cougars.
DETAILS:
Date: Fri Jan 4/ Sat Jan 5 Time: 6 pm/5 pm CDT
Location: Investors Group Athletic Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
TRU Record: 5-7 on the road this year 1-5
Manitoba Record: 5-7 at home this year 2-2
Important Game Notes:
This match features two of the top statistical players in the Canada West. Bisons libero Cassie Dujan leads the league in digs and is third in digs per set. TRU's Olga Savenchuk is fourth in Canada West in kills per set.
The teams played last year at the TCC and split. Thompson Rivers won the first match 3-2 (25-19,16-25,25-20, 30-32,15-10) on November 24, 2017. The following night saw the Bisons win in five (23-25,21-25,25-22,25-15,15-10)
Both matches can be seen on Canada West TV on a pay-per-view basis.
Thoughts from WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm:
1. Thoughts on the second half of the year. We should have a lot of competitive and meaningful matches in the second half as we play mainly teams in our zone of the standings and with the playoff race so tight it should be a playoff like feeling for most of the second half.
2. How do you match up with Manitoba? Manitoba is a similar team to us in some ways in that they have a fairly young team and rely on their defense to win long rallies. They are always tough, especially at home so we will have to be prepared to be in extended rallies and be disciplined in our assignments.
3. What impressed you most about your team in the first half of the year ? I think just our ability to gel as a group with so many new players and to both find and accept roles that are going to be most beneficial to the team. Also in understanding that these roles evolve and change from week to week so being flexible in adapting to what is asked of them each day.
4. Olga has had a great first half of the season, was her adaptation to Canada West as seemless as it appeared to most? I think for Olga the biggest adjustment wasn't necessarily going to be volleyball performance related since she has played at a high level for many years but more in how she was going to adapt to the demands of studying again and playing with less experienced players. I think Olga has developed an understanding of how she needs to contribute in order for everyone on our team to be successful and is finding the rhythm of going back to school as the year progresses. Her work ethic and drive to succeed in all aspects of her life has allowed the adjustment to appear seamless but behind the scenes it has taken a lot of effort on her part.
5. Could you comment on the play of two of your vets in the first half: Kendra Finch and Abby Spratt and what do you expect from them in the second half? Abby and Kendra are definitely a part of our core leadership group within the team and have done a good job of helping to pull this group together both on and off the court. I expect them to continue to perform at a consistent level on the court while helping to lead the less experienced players as we head deeper into the season.
6. How about the development of Avery Pottle? Avery is a much more mature player and person that has taken responsibility for her own development by putting in extra work and it has shown. Avery has always shown she is able to perform at a high level in important situations but has started to be able to do this on a more consistent basis which is always the sign of a more veteran player.
7. Is there an area of Manitoba's game that you have to key in on in order to be victorious? I think we just need to understand that Manitoba has many changeable pieces and can throw many different looks on the floor so we need to do a good job of communicating and identifying what they are doing but at the same time focus on our own side of the net. We can keep ourselves in most matches if we serve the ball consistently tough and don't give away free points in service reception and unforced errors.
Players to Watch:
TRU:
Olga Savenchuk (1st year, outside hitter, Donetsk, Ukraine): leads the team with 151 kills, second on the team with 13 service aces, 122 digs (second on the team), two solo blocks and 22 block assists. She is fourth in kills per set in Canada West (3.77) and averages 4.4 points per set. Olga has appeared in 12 matches and 40 sets.
Kendra Finch (4th year, outside hitter, North Vancouver, BC): In 12 matches and 38 sets, 105 kills, team leading 19 service aces, three solo blocks and 11 block assists, 124 digs averaging 3.4 points per set.
Avery Pottle (3rd year, middle, Uxbridge, Ontario): has dressed for 12 matches playing 37 sets. She has 49 kills, five service aces, seven solo blocks and 23 block assists
Abby Spratt (3rd year, setter, Calgary, AB): 303 assists, 13 service aces, two solo blocks and nine block assists in 38 sets through 12 matches.
MANITOBA:
Cassie Bujan (5th year, libero, Anola, MB): leads Canada West in digs (97) and is third in the league in digs per set (4.58). She has played all 12 matches and 47 sets so far.
Laura Finley (4th year, left side, Delta, BC): leads team in kills with 110 and is second on the team in digs with 126. She has played all 12 matches and 47 sets so far this year
Jocelyn Koswin (3rd year, middle, Winnipeg, MB): her 100 kills is second most on the Bisons. She has 33 digs, three solo blocks and 20 block assists
Kelsey Jordan (2nd year, setter, Brandon, MB): has appeared in all 47 sets and 12 matches this season notching 336 assists, 81 digs, 1 solo block and 11 block assists
Home game/match highlights will be available by logging onto www.gowolfpack.tru.ca
