The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack  Women's volleyball program have moved closer to a playoff spot in the Canada West.

The WolfPack had to win the final two sets to defeat the hometown University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat 3-2 Friday night (Feb 15) at the "Furnace".
The scores were 23-25,25-21,21-25, 25-16, 15-9.  TRU moves to 12-11 on the year while UBCO falls to 2-21.

This was the latest in the "President's Cup" series between TRU and UBCO.  Entering this match, the WolfPack held the lead after sweeping in basketball, garnering a win and a tie in soccer and losing in cross country running. This victory secured a second straight win for the Thompson Rivers athletics department over the UBCO athletics department in head-to-head women's action

SYNOPSIS

The WolfPack had their hands full with the Heat for most of the match.  Errors did the UBCO squad in on this night as they committed 18 service errors to TRU's 5, they had 12 reception errors to the 'Packs 5.  Thompson Rivers had 12 service aces to UBCO's 5 and UBCO had 22 attack errors through the five sets compared to TRU's 13.
The Pack were led offensively by Kendra Finch with 19 kills in 40 chances. Olga Savenchuk added 14 while Avery Pottle added eight.   Hali Drezet had 18 digs while Anastasiia Muzyka contributed 40 assists.
UBCO was led by first year outside hitter Sydney Grills. She had a career high 22 kills. Aidan Lee added 19 kills while Jade Bussard chipped in with 13.
The Pack, MacEwan and Manitoba all have records of 12-11 with Mount Royal still in it at 11-12.  The regular season ends Saturday with TRU playing at UBCO, MacEwan visiting Brandon, Manitoba at Trinity Western and Mount Royal in Saskatchewan
 
SCORES:

UBCO: 25   21   25   16   9   ---2
TRU:    23   25   21   25  15  ---3
 
KEY STATS:

TRU
Kendra Finch (4^th year outside hitter, North Van, BC)   19 kills in 40 swings, 3 service aces, 10 digs
Olga Savenchuk (1^st year, outside hitter, Donetsk, Ukraine) 14 kills in 31 chances,3 service aces,11 digs.
Avery Pottle (3^rd year middle, Uxbridge, ON):8 kills in 31 opportunities, 1 solo block, 2 block assists,3 digs
 Anastasiya Muzyka (2nd^t year setter, Potawa, Ukraine): 40 assists, 1 service ace, 11 digs
 Hali Drezet (3^rd year, libero, Prince George, BC)18 digs, 4 assists
 
UBCO:
Sydney Grills: 22 kills in 39 opportunities, 2 service aces, 6 digs, 2 block assists
Aidan Lea: 19 kills in 37 swings, 4 digs, 1 solo block, 5 block assists, 2 assists
Jade Bussard: 13 kills in 34 chances, 17 digs, 1 service ace
Ann Richards: 11 kills in 34 chances, 10 digs, 1 service ace
Natalie Livingston: 55 assists, 13 digs
 
RECORDS:
 TRU: 12-11   UBCO: 2-21
 
 
THEY SAID IT! (post match quotes):

TRU head coach Chad Grimm

On  match: " I thought it was a good match. UBCO played well and I thought we played well for the most part. We did some good things as the match went on. We stayed patient and I thought we played a little better block defense. I thought their outside hitters did a good job early scoring against us.  They hit an efficient number as a team and definitely gave us all we could handle tonight.  It was good to see our girls stay patient and keep battling and ultimately come out on top. I thought Kendra had an outstanding match. Olga was solid and I thought Hali did some good stuff on the defensive side of the ball and had stable passing and Erin Mutch did a good job coming in and providing some good "D" and ball control and stabilized things. Morgan came in and did well. Gabby had some stints where she did well and the middles contributed as well. A good team win."

UP NEXT:

 Thompson Rivers  and UBCO will close out their Canada West regular season tomorrow (Saturday Feb 16) at the "Furnace".  Match time is 5 pm.  The match will be seen on a pay per view basis on www.canadawesttv.com.