With a goal of solidifying fifth place in their sites, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team will hit highway 97  for a trip to Kelowna and their final two matches of the 2018-19 Canada West season.
The Pack will visit the University of British Columbia Heat at their home gym "The Furnace" for matches Friday and Saturday nights (Feb 15-16).
The Pack have a .500 record (10-10)  while the Heat sit in the basement of the Canada West as they are searching for their first match wins of the season after 20 straight setbacks.

Game Information:

Date: Fri Feb 15/ Sat Feb 16  Time: 8 PM/7 PM  PDT
Location:  The Furnace, UBCO, Kelowna, BC           
TRU record: 10-10 ( 3 way tie for 5^th in league)   Last 5 matches: 2-3        on road    3-5
UBCO  record: 0-20 (12^h in league)                         Last 5 matches: 0-5      at home:  0-8

 
Important Game Notes:

The Heat have two former members of the Regina Cougars program on their roster: fifth year outside hitter, Brennan Goski (Moose Jaw, SK) and third year opposite, Matt Aubrey (Brisbane, AUS).  Aubrey is third on the team with 93 kills and third on the team averaging 2.3 points per set.
These two matches are the last in the President's Cup series.  The WolfPack have already won the men's portion for a second straight year.  This follows the men's basketball team sweeping UBCO and the men's soccer team winning and tying.  The UBCO cross country team beat the WolfPack squad  in their head-to-head competition.  The trophy will be handed out on Saturday.
The regular season U SPORTS careers for Cole Hanson and Isaac Smit will come to a conclusion in their home town this weekend.  They will play on for another few weeks at least after TRU secured that playoff spot on home court last weekend.
 
Thoughts from WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly:

It is great to make the post season. Still too tight to see where we could end up so it is important we take of business this weekend. Looks like there may be multiple ties from 5-8. UBC Ok has struggled but is probably looking to end on a positive note ending the season. We are going through the same prep as usual and I think our veteran players will be ready to perform. 
It has been a good rivalry and I think WolfPack fans appreciate beating Kelowna in any sport. I don't want to think too much about past success we have a team in our way of coming as high as 5th and that is the real focus.
 
Players to Watch:

TRU:
Tim Dobbert (5^th year, outside hitter, Aichelberg, Germany): is second in Canada West in kills per set (4.39) and leads the league in kills (347). He is averaging five points per set.  And is second on the team in digs at 102.
Anton Napolitano (3^rd year, setter, Victoria, AUS): second in Canada West in service aces per set (0.55). 101 digs is third on the team.  He leads the WolfPack with 42 service aces.
Kyle Behiels (4^th year, middle, Edmonton, AB):  fifth in Canada West in service aces per set (0.45). He second on the team with 39 service aces and second on the team in blocks with 55 (46 of them block assists).
Charlie Bringloe (4^th year, outside hitter, Waterloo, ON):  third on the team with 30 service aces. 179 kills is second on the WolfPack. He is second on the team averaging 2.9 points per set.


UBCO :

Brennan Goski (5^th year, outside hitter, Moose Jaw, SK): the former Regina Cougar is second on the team with 141 kills, fourth on the team with 76 digs and is second on the team averaging 2.8 points per set.
Max Heppel (2^nd year, left side, Langley, BC): leads the Heat averaging 3.2 points per set and has the most kills on the team with 186
Denham O' Reilly (4^th year, setter, Langley, BC): the former WolfPack setter joined UBCO this year after playing at VIU (PACWEST).  He is tied for the team lead with 8 service aces and leads the team with 340 assists.  He is second on the team with 94 digs.
 
If you can't make the game/match: watch online (pay per view) at www.canadawesttv.ca