KAMLOOPS – A dominant run in the middle of the match wasn't enough for the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team to pick up the victory in a 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 19-25, 25-13, 15-12) loss to the UBC Okanagan Heat in Kelowna.
 
After a nervy start to the match, the 'Pack took both the second and third sets but were unable to close the deal in the fourth before eventually falling in the fifth.
 
Sam Flowerday had 16 kills and a pair of aces to lead the 'Pack while both Michael Svab and Corbin Ockerman recorded five blocks. Sam Elgert had 31 assists and two aces to help out offensively.
 
Renn Petryk had 18 kills of his own for the Heat while also adding three aces. Teo Ardanaz put together eight blocks while Zach van Geel had 43 assists.
 
After dropping the first set and falling behind early in the second, Flowerday led the way for a WolfPack comeback.
 
"We had some nerves in the first and start of the second set," said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. The team really calmed down and won a tight second set with great attacking from Sam Flowerday."
 
Keeping that momentum going into the third, TRU dominated en route to a 25-19 victory.
 
"Sam Elgert broke open the third set with a great serving run to get us from tied to a comfortable lead," said Hennelly.
 
After UBCO returned the favour in the fourth the match headed to a deciding fifth set. UBCO jumped out to an early 7-2 lead and while TRU fought back to make things close at 13-11, it was a case of too little too late as the Heat took the set and the match.
 
TRU (4-3) and UBCO (3-4) will be back in action tomorrow afternoon in Kelowna. The two teams will play at 5 p.m. and that game can be watched live on canadawest.tv.