KAMLOOPS – Despite picking up the first set, the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team was unable to grind out their second victory of the season in a 3-1 (24-26, 25-18, 31-29, 25-17) loss to the UBC Okanagan Heat on the road.
"It was a bit of an up and down night for us," said WolfPack head coach
Pat Hennelly. "We battled hard in the first and third sets but struggled down the stretch serving."
As a team the WolfPack had 24 service errors on the night compared to just 12 for the Heat. In a game that saw two sets go to extra points, surrendering those free points was costly said Hennelly.
"That was not the only reason for the loss, but it was a big one."
For the second time this year
Samuel Elgert pulled off a triple-double stat-line. The third year from Edmonton recorded a ridiculous 18 kills, 21 assists and 13 digs for just the second triple-double in program history. Elgert hit an extremely efficient .481 per cent on the night.
Australian import
Sam Flowerday had his best offensive game as a member of the 'Pack with 15 kills while hitting .357 per cent. Returning to his hometown of Kelowna, rookie
Riley Brinnen had six block assists on the night.
For the Heat Maxwell Heppell and Noah Carlson both recorded 13 kills with Heppell also adding four service aces.
The WolfPack took the first set thanks to a massive comeback effort. With their backs against the wall trailing 22-16, TRU put rookie
Rylan Ibbetson on the service line. The product of Kelowna put on a show back in his hometown, helping the WolfPack win seven straight points to take a 23-22 advantage. Elgert had a pair of important kills down the stretch as the 'Pack pulled out the 26-24 set victory.
After the second set went the way of the Heat, there was more drama in the third.
UBCO jumped out to an early 10-5 lead before went on a 10-4 run keyed by a pair of kills from Elgert to take a 15-14 advantage of their own. The Heat appeared to be edging away with a 22-19 lead but again the WolfPack fought back late in the set to knot things up at 24. Flowerday had a pair of kills but the WolfPack were unable to get any set-point opportunities before falling 31-29.
The Heat outhit the WolfPack .571-.200 per cent in the fourth stretch en route to the 25-17 victory.
These teams will meet again tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. in Kelowna. To add another layer of intensity to the Interior rivalry clash a win for the 'Pack would clinch the Presidents' Cup for the Kamloops school. A Heat win however, and the trophy would be awarded based on the tie-breaker of points scored.
