Matthew Hamilton
Andrew Snucins
3
Winner Brandon Bobcats BDN 0-0,0-0
1
TRU WolfPack TRU 0-0,0-0
Winner
Brandon Bobcats BDN
0-0,0-0
3
Final
1
TRU WolfPack TRU
0-0,0-0
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Brandon Bobcats BDN 25 17 25 26 (3)
TRU WolfPack TRU 23 25 20 24 (1)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | | TRU WolfPack, Sydney Sanghara

WolfPack fall in narrow defeat on senior night

QUICK FIRE
  • On a night they celebrated two outstanding graduating student-athletes the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team fought right down to the wire in a tight 3-1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24) defeat inside the TCC.
 
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
  • The graduating duo of Sam Flowerday and Matthew Hamilton were key for the 'Pack. Flowerday had a team-high 16 kills while also adding four service aces. Hamilton chipped in with eight kills and an ace while Rylan Ibbetson recorded 12 kills and 17 digs.
  • Tom Friesen carried the game for the Bobcats, racking up 19 kills on just 42 swings. Liam Pauls added 13 while Riley Brunet was a force at the net with three solo and two assisted blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Bobcats squeaked out the first set 25-23 after an exhilarating start to the night. The first action of the game saw three kills back-to-back-to-back from Flowerday. The Bobcats immediately responded with a 5-0 run accentuated by an ace from Riley Grusing to take their first lead at 6-5. From there both teams took turns going on runs with a pair of Flowerday aces spurring the 'Pack to a 16-13 lead only for Brandon to score the next four. The teams traded points until Friesen fired down back-to-back points to give the visitors set points at 24-22. TRU was able to fight off one but couldn't pull back even as they fell 25-23.
  • The 'Pack controlled the second as TRU hit .387 per cent as a team while holding Brandon to a mark of .143. The turning point in the set came with Walker Sodaro at the service line as the second-year setter spurred TRU to a 5-0 run that gave them a 15-11 edge. Ibbetson had seven kills plus an ace in the set to allow TRU to pull away for the 25-17 victory.
  • The third set was knotted up at 18-18 before Brandon took control. Friesen had three kills and Brunet added two kills and a block as Brandon scored seven of the final nine points in the frame to take the set 25-20.
  • The fourth set came right down to the wire. It appeared as though Brandon had the match sewn up when a kill from Pauls gave them a trio of match points at 24-21. A quick block from Hamilton and Jakob Leinemann combined with a Flowerday kill allowed TRU to fight those off, but the comeback wasn't meant to be as Pauls put down a kill followed by a block from J.J. Love to seal the night. 

NOTABLE
  • The result was a crucial one for both teams. TRU is now 6-13 on the year but still kicking in the playoff race. A win tomorrow combined with a loss from UFV and the 'Pack could jump the Cascades for the tenth and final playoff spot. With the win Brandon clinches their postseason spot with a record of 9-10.
  • After the game TRU honoured Flowerday and Hamilton for their outstanding WolfPack careers.
  • Flowerday set a little history on senior night. With four aces in the game the product of Proserpine, AUS moved into first all-time in the WolfPack career aces leaderboard.

QUOTABLE (WolfPack head coach, Pat Hennelly)
  • "We were fighting ourselves tonight. In the first set we had an opportunity but we missed some free balls, there was some miscommunication and it was just our nerves showing."
  • "There were some guys that didn't meet the moment and couldn't reset fast enough. Credit to Brandon they kept steady pressure on us."
  • ON THE MESSAGE TO HIS TEAM HEADING INTO TOMORROW'S MUST-WIN MATCH "We know we have to be better between plays, we have to reset a little better. There were defensive sets where we had stuff that we worked all week on but we missed those opportunities. Those are the moments where guys minds are racing with what is at stake, but we just have to find a way to refocus."
  • "We didn't necessarily lose the game, Brandon won the game."
  • "Flowerday and Hammy have been steady for us and I think they both had excellent games tonight. Credit to those two guys, they came out to play today."
 
UP NEXT
  • These teams will do battle in the regular season finale tomorrow, February 15th at 3:00 p.m. in the Tournament Capital Centre.
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