KAMLOOPS – There were signs of growth for a Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team that for the second-straight night fell 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-18) to the host Trinity Western Spartans.
Despite the result looking the same on the score board as the night prior, there was plenty of improvement for a young WolfPack team taking on one of the best in the nation.
"We were definitely much more stable from the service line, as well as in our passing and blocking which was great," said WolfPack head coach
Pat Hennelly.
The WolfPack hit .113 per cent as a team, led in efficiency by a pair of college transfers in
Thundersky Walkingbear and
Michael Svab who both finished at a rate of .250.
"He's played at the college level but this is still a jump and he's still getting a feel for this league," said Hennelly on Walkingbear, who finished the night with six kills. "He was very sound with ball control, made some nice defensive moves and was solid again for us tonight."
Anton Napolitano, the lone fifth year on the WolfPack roster, once again led the way with seven kills on the night. Napolitano was freed up to play outside hitter thanks to the strong night from
Ethan Olfert, who made the first start of his Canada West career and collected 18 assists on the night.
"We started
Ethan Olfert at setter and as a first-year guy out there he did really well," said Hennelly. "It's a tough environment for anyone to play in and I thought he did a really good job running the offence."
The WolfPack's best set of the weekend came in the second frame in tonight's game. They hit .421 per cent in the set as a team and were led by four kills from Napolitano.
Next up for the WolfPack is their home opening games when they welcome the UBC Okanagan Heat to the Tournament Capital Centre next weekend.
"We should have a decent crowd and it's going to be exciting to be back at home," said Hennelly. "There are less opportunities for wins this season with the altered schedule, but this is a close geographic rival and someone that we want to beat to establish ourselves as a playoff contender."
