WolfPack women's volleyball sweeps UBCO, clinches playoff spot
 
For Immediate Release: Saturday February 16, 2019
 
KELOWNA, BC-- The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack are heading back to the Canada West women's volleyball playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
The WolfPack swept the host University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat 3-1 on Saturday night (Feb 16) at the 'Furnace".   The scores were 25-22,25-21,17-25,25-19.

Thompson Rivers winds up the season at 13-11.  UBCO finishes at 2-22.  The WolfPack wind up sixth in the Canada West standings and have a date next week in Alberta against the University of Alberta Pandas in a best of three series which begins Friday (Feb 22).

This was the final match up in the "President's Cup" series between TRU and UBCO.    The WolfPack clinched the trophy on the women's side on Friday night with a five set win over the Heat.
After the contest, the Heat honored their three graduating players, Sophia Furland, Aidan Lee and Ann Richards.

 SYNOPSIS

The WolfPack opened up the first set going on a 5-0 run but were down 16-13 at the technical time out. The second set started much the same way as the Pack were down 3-1 before scoring four straight points.  

The Pack had four players who had double figure kills led by Olga Savenchuk with 13.   Avery Pottle, Kendra Finch and Erin Mutch added 10.   Rookie middle Lizzy Reimer had 10 block assists.The record is 14 held by Katarina Osachuk on January 22, 2012 when she had two solo blocks and 12 block assists.

The Heat were led by graduating fifth year players Aidan Lea and Ann Richards. Lea had 17 kills while Richards added 13.  Rookie outside hitter Sydney Grills contributed 14 kills.
Richards, Lea and libero Sophia Furlan were honored after the match. Furland had 14 digs.
 
SCORES:
UBCO:   22   21  25   19   ---1
TRU:      25   25  17   25   ---3
 
KEY STATS:

TRU

Olga Savenchuk (1^st year, outside hitter, Donetsk, Ukraine) 13 kills in 35 swings, 18 digs, 1 solo bock, 5 block assists
Kendra Finch (4^th year outside hitter, North Van, BC) 10 kills in 48 chances, 8 digs, 5 block assists
Erin Mutch (1^st year, outside hitter, Victoria, BC)10 kills in 24 opportunities, 14 digs, 2 service aces
Avery Pottle (3^rd year, middle, Uxbridge, ON)10 kills in 26 attempts, 3 solo blocks, 2 block assists
Lizzy Reimer (1^st year, middle, Edmonton, AB 3 kills in 6 swings, 3 service aces, 10 block assists
Anastasiya Muzyka (2nd^t year setter, Potawa, Ukraine)42 assists, 2 service aces, 7 digs, 1 solo block, 2 block assists
Hali Drezet (3^rd year, libero, Prince George, BC)  19 digs
 
 
UBCO:

Aidan Lee:  17 kills in 33 opportunities, 7 digs, 4 solo blocks, 5 block assists
Sydney Grills: 14 kills in 35 chances, 9 digs,  1 block assist
Ann Richards: 13 kills in 47 swings, 12 digs, 2 block assists
Natalie Livingston: 41 assists, 2 service aces, 11 digs, 3 block assists
 
RECORDS:

 TRU: 13-11   UBCO: 2-22
 
 
UP NEXT:

The WolfPack finished sixth in the Canada West standings and will meet the University of Alberta Pandas in the first round of the playoffs next week in Alberta.  Game two of the series will be Saturday, Feb 23^rd at 3 PM MDT with a third game, if needed going at 1 pm MDT on Sunday, February 24^th.  Other first round series have UBC (5) visiting Regina (4), Mount Royal (7) visiting Trinity Western (2) while Calgary (1) hosts Manitoba (8).    The semi finals will be held the following week and are best two of three series to be hosted at the highest remaining seed. 
The Winner of the TRU/Alberta series will meet the winner of Trinity Western/ Mount Royal. The other series will have the winner of Regina/UBC taking on the winner of Calgary and Manitoba.