In what could arguably be the biggest win in school history, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack jumped out to a 2-0 lead and went onto beat the number one ranked Trinity Western University Spartans 3-2 in the opening match of their best of three Canada West women's volleyball semifinal.

The scores at the Langley Events Centre on Thursday night were 25-21,25-21,11-25,17-25,15-8.

The loss was only the third for Trinity Western all season on their home court.

Thompson Rivers was led offensively by first team Canada West all-star Kendra Finch (5^th year, outside hitter, North Vancouver, BC).  She was 19 for 46 with 16 digs, two service aces along with a solo block and a block assist.

Olga Savenchuk (2^nd year, outside hitter, Donetsk, Ukraine) had nine kills in 24 chances (including the winning point in the fifth set).  She added 13 digs, a service ace, a solo block and five block assists.  Avery Pottle (4^th year, middle/outside Uxbridge, ON) had six kills in 18 opportunities along two digs.   Anastasiia Muzyka (3^rd year, setter, Poltawa, Ukraine) had 30 assists, five blocks and 13 digs while Katie Ludvig (3^rd year, libero, Kamloops, BC) had 11 digs.

Canada West second team all-star Kseniya Kocyigit (1^st year, middle, Byaroza, Belarus) had four solo blocks and eight block assists to go along with a kill in eight swings.

Trinity Western was led by their first team Canada West all-star Hilary Howe (4^th year, outside hitter, Calgary, AB).  She was 17 for 50 with two service ace, four digs and two block assists.  Dora Komlodi (3^rd year, setter, Calgary, AB)  had 28 assists and 10 digs.  Emma Gamache  (2^nd year, libero, Abbotsford, BC) had 14 digs.

Canada West second team all-star Avery Heppell  (3^rd year, middle/left side, Langley, BC) had seven kills in 17 chances, with two service aces, three digs and four block assists.  Savannah Purdy (2^nd year, outside hitter, Victoria BC) had seven kills in 29 opportunities with seven digs and two service aces.  Mikaelyn Sych (5^th year, middle, Airdrie, AB) had seven kills in 14 swings with four service aces and three digs.

WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm said afterwards, " Good start for our squad. We came out and I thought we were very effective from the service line and put them out of system.  Our block and D did a great job especially early in the match.  After the first two sets, Trinity made a push back, we knew they would as the top team in the nation , they came out and imposed their game on us.   I thought we were waiting to see what would happen and didn't have the same aggressiveness we had in the opening two sets.  Credit to the girls, they came back in the fifth and were tough. They executed down the stretch. I thought Kendra was outstanding.  Ksenyia blocking and D were really good. I thought she knows how to play the game and knows how to make things difficult. She makes them guess. We have the first one and its important,  but the job is only half done. We need to come out tomorrow and be focused."
 
 
The Spartans had 17 service error's to Thompson Rivers' 14.    Trinity had 13 service aces in the match in comparison to the Wolf Pack's 5.

TRU - Leaders
Kills	Kendra Finch (19), Olga Savenchuk (9), Avery Pottle (6)
Aces	Kendra Finch (2), Olga Savenchuk (1), Kseniya Kocyigit (1)
Blocks	Kseniya Kocyigit (12), Olga Savenchuk (6), Anastasiia Muzyka (5)
Assists	Anastasiia Muzyka (30), Abby Spratt (4), Avery Pottle (1)
Digs	Kendra Finch (16), Olga Savenchuk (13), Katie Ludvig (11)
TWUW - Leaders
Kills	Hilary Howe (17), Avery Heppell (7), Savannah Purdy (7)
Aces	Mikaelyn Sych (4), Olivia Heinen (3), Hilary Howe (2)
Blocks	Ansah Odoom (4), Avery Heppell (4), Hilary Howe (2)
Assists	Dora Komlodi (28), Olivia Heinen (9), Savannah Purdy (2)
Digs	Emma Gamache (14), Dora Komlodi (10), Ansah Odoom (7)

 
The Langley Events Center is also being used for the BC High School basketball championships. Because of that, the teams pre game warm up was drastically reduced.  In fact, the teams along with the Spartans men's squad and the Brandon Bobcats (who are playing their Canada West men's volleyball semi finals at the LEC as well) all have to practice at the University of Fraser Valley gym in Abbotsford, BC.

Game two of the best of three series will be played Friday (Feb 28) at the Langley Events Centre. The match has a 7 PM PDT start time, but that might be delayed. The gym is also being used for the Provincial basketball championships so the time might be pushed back.  The match is available on a pay per view basis by going to Canada West TV.  The webcast is presented by Co-op.   If a third and deciding match is needed , it would be played Saturday (Feb 29) at 6 PM PDT. 

The winner of the series not only goes to the Canada West championship final but also earns an automatic berth to the 2020 U SPORTS women's volleyball nationals which will be played in Calgary next month.  The loser of this series still has a chance to go to Nationals. They would have to win the bronze medal match.  The winner of this series plays the winner of the Alberta/Mount Royal semi final which begins Friday (Feb 28) at Mount Royal.