MVB Presidents' Cup
Andrew Snucins
2
UBC Okanagan Heat UBCO 0-0,0-0
3
Winner Thompson Rivers WolfPack TRU 0-0,0-0
UBC Okanagan Heat UBCO
0-0,0-0
2
Final
3
Thompson Rivers WolfPack TRU
0-0,0-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
UBC Okanagan Heat UBCO 22 25 25 22 8 (2)
Thompson Rivers WolfPack TRU 25 20 17 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | | TRU WolfPack

WolfPack clinch Presidents’ Cup and sweep Heat in dramatic fashion

QUICK FIRE
  • It was a monumental five-set victory for a Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team that took down the UBCO Heat 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-8) inside the TCC. Not only did the win give TRU a sweep over UBCO, but it also clinched the men's Presidents' Cup - an annual competition between TRU and UBCO that tallies points for wins in head-to-head matches between the two schools.
 
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
  • Sam Flowerday had one of the strongest games of his prolific TRU career, finishing with 23 kills on 51 swings. Middle Corbin Ockerman had six kills on just 11 swings while Sam Elgert continued to write his name in the program record books with 41 assists.
  • Zach Van Geel had 12 kills to lead UBCO while Seba Manuel added 10. Teo Ardanaz and Ashton South had six and five block assists respectively for the visitors.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Riding the momentum from their five set victory last night, the 'Pack squeaked out the first set. A 3-0 Wolfpack run that featured two kills from Matthew Hamilton gave TRU a lead at 22-18. The Heat fought off a pair of set points but  were eventually unable to hold off the 'Pack with Sam Elgert ending the set with a kill.
  • The game appeared to be slipping away from TRU after the Heat took both the second and third sets in dominant fashion. UBCO jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth before Flowerday took over the match. The WolfPack fought all the way back to tie the score at 17-17 and then ended the set on an 8-4 run thanks to four kills from Flowerday.
  • The WolfPack owned the fifth set. A strong serving run from Rylan Ibbetson that featured a pair of aces allowed the 'Pack to jump out to a 10-3 lead that they would never surrender en route to the victory.

NOTABLE
  • The Presidents' Cup win was the first for TRU since 2019-20.
  • The match was the fifth-straight time that TRU and UBCO have gone to five sets in CW regular season play.
  • Elgert moved past the 2,000 career CW assist mark in the match, becoming just the second player in program history to do so.
  • The win was an important one for a WolfPack squad that now holds a record of 9-7 and is tied with the TWU Spartans for the final playoff spot.

QUOTABLE – Pat Hennelly, head coach
  • At times that was some of the worst volleyball we played all year, and I didn't think it was going to turn around. Credit to the guys – the fourth set was shaky to start and you could feel the momentum – but then everyone got on the Air Qantas first class and rode Flowerday right to the end. I haven't seen a performance like that for a while, every ball he touched was a point or put them in trouble so credit to Sam Flowerday that was a big time effort and showed great leadership.
  • We have a great athletic department and had a huge winning streak in the Presidents' Cup for a long time. I know men's volleyball let them down two years ago where we just needed one win but I feel good we were able to secure it for TRU.
 
UP NEXT
  • TRU will remain in Kamloops next week as they get sit for a pivotal pair of matches against TWU on Thursday night and Friday afternoon inside the TCC.
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