KAMLOOPS – Second set momentum proved crucial as the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team was unable to find a response to an efficient Saskatchewan Huskies squad in a 3-1 (19-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-17) loss inside the TCC.
The 'Pack came out flying to start the match, taking the first set comfortably but after the Huskies won a close second set; they were able to ride that momentum and win the third and fourth set comfortably.
Sam Flowerday led the WolfPack yet again, finishing the night with 12 kills.
Corbin Ockerman pitched in with six kills of his own and three aces while
Thundersky Walkingbear had five kills and added an ace.
Dylan Mortensen made his presence known at the net for the Huskies and had a big night. He finished the game with 17 kills, three blocks and an ace while hitting .556 per cent. Levi Olson added in 10 kills and 2 aces to help the Huskies to victory.
"Credit to Sask, they made some veteran moves from a veteran team, and we were slow to respond," said WolfPack head coach
Pat Hennelly. "But I'm proud of the effort from the guys. Guys like
Matthew Hamilton and
Michael Svab coming in did a great job and that's something we were missing in the past."
The first set started out with teams trading points back and forth. Despite Mortensen having six kills in the set, it would be Ockerman who would blow the set open for the WolfPack when he went on a serving run which included three aces to push the 'Pack to a 15-9 lead. From there the WolfPack cruised to win the set 25-19.
The second set was another tight affair with both teams staying within a couple points of each other all the way to the end. While the WolfPack would take a 24-23 lead and earn a chance to win the set, the Huskies didn't go away without a fight and would prevail to win the set 26-24 thanks in large part to a pair of kills from Mortensen.
With momentum on their side, the Huskies would go on to win the third and fourth set receiving contributions from their entire lineup.
The third set was decided during a 5-1 Huskie run that turned a 19-17 lead into a 24-18 advantage during which the 'Pack made a trio of attack errors.
In the fourth and final frame the Huskies jumped out to a 17-9 advantage and never looked back en route to the victory.
The WolfPack (4-5) and the Huskies (6-3) will be back in action tomorrow afternoon in Kamloops. The two teams will play at 4:45 p.m. at the TCC.
