If the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack want to make it to the 2020 U SPORTS Women's Volleyball Nationals, they will have to do it through the 'back door'.

The WolfPack dropped the third and deciding game of their Canada West semi final on Saturday (Feb 29). They lost to the number one ranked team in the nation, the Trinity Western University Spartans for the second straight night in straight sets. The scores at in Building "B" of the Langley Events Centre were  25-13,25-18,25-23.  

The Spartans win the best of three series in three games and not only advance to the Canada West gold medal match but also secure a berth to the U SPORTS Nationals, which will be played in Calgary in mid March.

The Spartans were led by Hilary Howe (4^th year, outside, Calgary, AB) with 13 kills in 31 chances, with seven digs and two service aces.  Anasah Odoom (1^st year, outside, Surrey, BC)  had seven kills in 17 swings with five digs and two service aces.  Dora Komlodi (3^rd year, setter, Calgary, AB) had 28 assists.   Mikaelyn Sych (5^th year, middle, Airdrie, AB) had four kills in eight chances with two service aces and three digs.

Thompson Rivers was led by Olga Savenchuk (2^nd year, outside, Donetsk, Ukraine).  She had nine kills in 23 opportunities with six digs.  Kendra Finch (5^th year, outside, North Vancouver, BC) had was 8 for 32 with seven digs and two service aces.  Abby Spratt (4^th year, setter, Calgary, AB) had 18 assists.
The WolfPack out blocked the Spartans 7-6 in the contest.  Trinity out dug the Pack 39-36 and had nine service aces to Thompson Rivers' 7.   The WolfPack had ten service errors compared to seven for the Spartans.

The first set saw Komlodi go on a 6-0 run early which forced Pack head coach Chad Grimm to call a time out down 7-2.   The Spartans went on a five point run later in the set to lead 16-7 at the tech time out.

The second set saw the WolfPack take the lead at 3-2. But Trinity went on a 7-0 run spurred on by the serving of Sych to lead 9-4 and reached the tech time out leading by eight (16-8).  Thompson Rivers went on a bit of a run before the end of that set, scoring four straight points including ones on kills from Middles Kseniya Kocyigit (1^st year, Byroza, Belarus) and Hayley McNaught (2^nd year, Woking, AB).

Thompson Rivers put up their strongest fight in the third and final set. They battled the Spartans point for point and were leading 16-15 at the technical time out.

WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm said, " We couldn't find our rhythm. We struggled to pass the ball. We were giving them free balls. When you give them free balls they have three options all the time which makes it tough on your blocking 'd' and rallies are over quickly. It is hard to make a stand a little bit when you are giving them those opportunities. It wasn't really until late in the second that we started to dig in and find our rhythm a little bit. We put up a fight in the third.  Disappointing that we couldn't get it going and push them like I think we could. We are going to go home and get some rest and recovery and be ready to go on the road one more time next week. Hopefully we can extend our season and hit Calgary for nationals in two weeks. "
 
Katie Ludvig (3^rd year, libero, Kamloops, BC) was named the WolfPack player of the match with four digs in the three sets.
 

TRU - Leaders
Kills	Olga Savenchuk (9), Kendra Finch (8), Avery Pottle (3)
Aces	Kendra Finch (2), Gabriela Podolski (2), Kseniya Kocyigit (2)
Blocks	Avery Pottle (5.0), Olga Savenchuk (3.0), Kendra Finch (2.0)
Assists	Abby Spratt (18), Anastasiia Muzyka (3), Kendra Finch (1)
Digs	Kendra Finch (7), Olga Savenchuk (6), Abby Spratt (4)
TWUW - Leaders
Kills	Hilary Howe (13), Avery Heppell (8), Ansah Odoom (7)
Aces	Dora Komlodi (2), Hilary Howe (2), Ansah Odoom (2)
Blocks	Hilary Howe (4.0), Avery Heppell (3.0), Dora Komlodi (1.0)
Assists	Dora Komlodi (28), Olivia Heinen (7), Emma Gamache (2)
Digs	Emma Gamache (13), Hilary Howe (7), Savannah Purdy (6)

 
The WolfPack will now play the loser of the other Canada West semi final between the Alberta Pandas and the Mount Royal Cougars in a one match—winner take all-bronze medal confrontation for the third of four Canada West berths to nationals.   The Spartans will tangle with the winner of that semi final for the Canada West gold and the number one league seed at nationals.   That other team in the gold medal match also has earned a berth to nationals.

The Alberta/Mount Royal best of three semi final is deadlocked at one after the Cougars beat the Pandas 3-1 on Saturday. Their third and deciding match will be played Sunday (Mar 1) at Mount Royal.