St. John Ambulance's first responders have nothing on the TRU WolfPack women's volleyball team.
The club showed off its arsenal of quirky sideline celebrations during a victory over the UBC Okanagan Heat of Kelowna on Saturday at the Tournament Capital Centre, one of which feigns the revival of a player downed by a savage spike.
"That's our resuscitation one," said Hayley McNaught, a second-year middle from Woking, Alta. "If someone gets a really big kill, we've got to bring them back to life because it was so big."
The celebrations are performed by bench players.
"We have a conga line. That's for an ace," said McNaught, whose service ace put the finishing touch on a 3-1 win on Saturday. "If we do a big block, we all come together to make a pyramid or a house."
There is nothing uncommon about the sideline antics, practised my most Canada West teams that roll through the TCC, but troupes with more to opportunity to cheer can fine-tune entertainment.
And it's not just about putting on a show.
"If we didn't have energy coming from the bench, I don't think we would have energy on the court," said Morgan Rigelhof, a fourth-year outside hitter from St. Albert, Alta. "It's really important for everyone to be dialled in.
"It feels less divided that way. Usually, teams have starters and then their bench line. Every single person is valuable on this team."
The Heat did not make it easy on the WolfPack, serving well to halt the home team's momentum and besting TRU 25-19 in the second set.
"We're fighting to be able to go to the playoffs," said Sadie Taylor Parks, who plays middle for the Heat and is the younger sister of Sam Taylor Parks, a middle blocker for the WolfPack men.
"But they were really tough. They have lots of really good hitters. It's tough to know who to key on because they can all swing."
TRU improved to 15-5 and remains tied for second in Canada West standings with the Mount Royal Cougars (15-3) of Calgary. The top four teams will host playoff series.
UBC Okanagan (6-12), which fell in four sets to hometown TRU on Friday, is tied for ninth with the Calgary Dinos. The top eight teams will qualify for the post-season.
The WolfPack, the 10th-ranked U Sports women's volleyball team, are scheduled to play next against the MacEwan Griffins in Edmonton, the matches slated for Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.
MacEwan (14-6) is among clubs trying to usurp TRU and sneak into the top four to host a playoff series.
Rigelhof hopes to be celebrating in enemy territory.
"There are so many good ones," she said. "I'd say my favourite is if we get a really big kill, and it's a middle kill, then we all get down on one knee and flex.
"Someone comes up with something and then we all just snap into it."
THE MEN
TRU swept UBC Okanagan on the weekend, improving to 5-13 in men's Canada West volleyball play.
The Heat are 0-16.
TRU and MacEwan (2-16) will square off in Edmonton on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.
The Pack are 10th in conference standings, four points behind Manitoba and Mount Royal.
The top eight teams will qualify for the post-season.
TRU was awarded the President's Cup on Saturday at the TCC, the trophy handed to the winner of a season series between the Heat and WolfPack.
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