Sam Flowerday
3
Winner Thompson Rivers University WolfPack TRU 0-0,0-0
2
Alberta Golden Bears ALB 0-0,0-0
Winner
Thompson Rivers University WolfPack TRU
0-0,0-0
3
Final
2
Alberta Golden Bears ALB
0-0,0-0
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Thompson Rivers University WolfPack TRU 21 25 15 31 15 (3)
Alberta Golden Bears ALB 25 23 25 29 10 (2)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | | TRU WolfPack with files from Connor McCallister, Alberta Golden Bears Communications

For the second time in three weeks WolfPack knock off No. 2 ranked team in Canada

QUICK FIRE
  • The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball pulled off their second monumental upset in their last three games as they went on the road and took down the No. 2 Alberta Golden Bears by a tally of 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 15-25, 31-29, 15-10).
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
  • Sam Flowerday, second in WolfPack program history in kills, led the way for TRU with 17 kills to go along with a pair of aces. Rylan Ibbetson added 13 kills and four block assists while Gavin Margerison had five kills, three solo blocks and seven block assists. The brothers' Sodaro had a night with Walker recording 35 assists and Mason finishing with six kills on just nine attacks.
  • Last season's CW Player of the Year, Isaac Heslinga, had 25 kills for the Golden Bears.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Alberta got off to a hot start in the opening frame, but a 6-0 run mindset from a blazing hot WolfPack squad made it 14-10 for the visitors. It featured some terrific play from TRU setter Walker Sodaro, who had a nice attack and a couple of key blocks to help the run. However, Cherewaty and Heslinga would go on a run of their own to help Alberta come all the way back to a 25-21 win. Heslinga led all attackers with nine kills in the set, while Flowerday paced the WolfPack with four.
  • The Bears again dug themselves into a hole early in the second, with the WolfPack taking advantage to the tune of a 10-4 run to start the set off. A mid-set substitution of Jacob Sargeant helped inject some needed energy into the Alberta comeback effort, and they appeared to have the leg up with a 12-6 run to regain the lead at a 22-20 line. The WolfPack would show some real grit from there, scoring four straight including an emphatic two blocks in a row, one a solo from Margerison, to win the set 25-23. Ibbetson, Flowerday, and Heslinga all tied for the set lead in kills with four, while the WolfPack recorded six total blocks to stifle the Alberta attack.
  • The third set saw a more complete effort from the hosts, as they led the entire way en route to a 25-15 set win. While the WolfPack kept it close to start the frame, the Bears ran away with it with an 8-2 run to finish the win. It was a depth effort from Alberta, as five starters had multiple kills in the frame leading to a scorching .583 hitting percentage.
  • The fourth set was easily the closest of the day, as the teams jockeyed all through the 'teens in a set that featured a remarkable 19 tie scores and four lead changes. It got all the way to extras, where there were six service errors from the two sides combined, and after one from Alberta, TRU's Margerison aced to win a wild one 31-29. Heslinga had eight kills, while the WolfPack had all five non-special position starters record at least two kills.
  • The final frame started where it left off, with the WolfPack carrying some strong momentum and the Bears unable to shake their woes from the service line. By mid-set, they had already recorded two errors and had an attack error to boot as TRU paced the frame 8-5. The WolfPack attack was phenomenal from Flowerday et. al, as they hit .583 in the frame and shut the door on an Alberta blockline that attempted to get the Bears back in the game. He had a set-high three kills in the set as the 'Pack led the whole way winning the final set 15-10.
 
NOTABLE
  • The win was TRU's second since the winter break against a team ranked No. 2 in Canada after they previously defeated the Winnipeg Wesmen in the TCC back on January 10.
  • TRU claimed their second victory in their last three games against the perennial power Golden Bears.
  • Margerison's ten total blocks were a new career-high for the third-year middle out of Kelowna.
  • TRU moves to 4-9 on the season with the win. They are 2-1 in the second semester now with all three games coming against teams ranked second in the nation at the time of the match.

QUOTABLE (WolfPack head coach, Pat Hennelly)
  • It was a big night from multiple guys. Gavin Margerison at the net with his blocks and a crucial ace. Sam Flowerday and Mason Sodaro offensively and from the service line.
  • A big win to keep our playoff hopes alive.
UP NEXT
  • These teams will do battle again tomorrow night (January 25) in Edmonton with a scheduled start time of 4:00 p.m. PT.
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