David Larkins / Wesmen Athletics

TRUM TRUM 5-6

WPGM WPGM 7-6

TRUM TRUM

5-6

Final

Jan. 05, 2024

WPGM WPGM

7-6

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	F
TRUM TRUM	25	28	26	25	(3)
WPGM WPGM	21	26	28	19	(1)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | 1/6/2024 1:03:00 AM | TRU WolfPack

WolfPack defeat Wesmen in emotional return to court

Next Match:

at Winnipeg

1/6/2024 | 3:00 PM

Full Schedule

Jan. 06 (Sat) / 3:00 PM

at Winnipeg

History

QUICK FIRE

Just over one month after a devastating car crash that tragically took the life of Owyn McInnis and caused life-altering injuries to Owen Waterhouse and Riley Brinnen, the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team rallied around each other and took to the court Friday night in Winnipeg.
In a game that was more about playing for each other and honouring their teammates that couldn't be there than it was about earning any sort of result, the 'Pack picked up a 3-1 (25-21, 28-26, 26-28, 25-19) win over the Winnipeg Wesmen.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS

Matthew Hamilton put together one of the best games of his WolfPack career to finish with 17 kills, two aces, five blocks and eight digs. Sam Flowerday racked up 16 kills on just 33 attempts while Rylan Ibbetson added 14 in his 27 attacks. Setter Sam Elgert had an outstanding game for the 'Pack with 54 assists in just four sets.
Nigel Nielsen had a team-high 12 kills for the Wesmen. Isaiah Olfert added nine kills and three aces.
The WolfPack held a massive advantage in hitting efficiency with .389% to Winnipeg's .194%. TRU also had 19 blocks to the Wesmen's 11.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Hitting nearly .500 per cent as a team in the first set, the WolfPack ended the frame on a 7-2 run to turn what was a slim Wesmen lead into a 25-21 TRU victory. Flowerday had a pair of important kills late in the set to put the frame away.
TRU pulled out an incredibly close second set. The two teams traded points throughout the set until Winnipeg earned set point at 24-23. Two-straight kills from Flowerday kept TRU in the match before Hamilton ended the set with a decisive attack to make the score 28-26.
While Winnipeg was able to extend the game with a third-set victory, TRU refused to let the win slip away. The 'Pack fought back from an early 9-5 hole with a 13-5 run of their own keyed by three kills from Hamilton and two from Corbin Ockerman to take an 18-14 edge. Hamilton put two exclamation points on the match with back-to-back aces to end the game.

NOTABLE

A large WolfPack contingent of fans was in the crowd cheering on TRU in their return to action.
Hamilton set new career highs in kills (17), points (21.5), digs (8) and blocks (5).
TRU moves to 5-6 on the season with the win while the Wesmen fall to 7-6.
The win was TRU's first in CW action in Winnipeg against the Wesmen since the 2013-14 season.

QUOTABLE – Pat Hennelly, head coach