KAMLOOPS – It took everything they had but the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team was able to come from behind to take down the Brandon Bobcats by a score of 3-2 (25-21, 22-25, 18-25, 25-20, 15-23) in their season opening game Friday night.
"Credit to the guys, it just already shows our improvement from last year," said WolfPack head coach
Pat Hennelly. "I don't think we had that win in us last year. Full credit to Brandon, they are always a scrappy team, but our guy
Sam Elgert was phenomenal tonight."
Elgert was all over the scoresheet for the WolfPack, racking up 49 assists and 16 digs while also recording a pair of service aces.
Sam Flowerday led the way offensively with 20 kills while
Thundersky Walkingbear and
Rylan Ibbetson chipped in with 13 and 12 apiece.
"I subbed Elgert and Flowerday out in the third set to just say listen 'this has got to be the Sam and Sam show and I want you guys to lead the way so just go out and be yourselves," said Hennelly. "Those are our guys and they showed up tonight and that's how WolfPack volleyball has to be played."
Tom Friesen was electric for the Bobcats, recording 19 kills on his 37 attacks for a sparkling .432 hitting percentage. Middle Phillip Lauter had a massive night defensively with seven block assists while JJ Love put up 40 assists.
TRU rode the wave of a large opening night crowd to take the first set 25-21 before Brandon rallied and dominated the next two by scores of 25-22 and 25-18. The WolfPack were able to send things to a fifth and final set where there was nearly nothing to separate the two squads.
The teams traded points all the way to 13-13 before Walkingbear stepped up and delivered back-to-back kills to end the game and send the WolfPack to victory.
"I think there is a higher belief within our guys, it's a good tight core," said Hennelly. "One of our team mottos is brotherhood and I think the guys have embraced that. What you saw in the fourth and fifth set is a bunch of guys that like playing together and it showed."
These teams will be back in action tomorrow for the second game of their weekend set at 4:45 p.m. inside the Tournament Capital Centre.
