Keira Gent
0
Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack TRU 2-2,2-2
3
Winner University of Alberta Pandas ALB 3-0,3-0
Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack TRU
2-2,2-2
0
Final
3
University of Alberta Pandas ALB
3-0,3-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack TRU 20 21 23 (0)
University of Alberta Pandas ALB 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | TRU WolfPack with files from Alberta Athletics Communications

WolfPack to play for CW bronze after loss to Pandas

QUICK FIRE
  • The Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's volleyball team went toe-to-toe with the No. 1 seed Alberta Pandas but ultimately fell 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) in a Canada West semifinal bout Friday night in Edmonton.
  • TRU will now play for a conference bronze medal tomorrow, March 7, at 4:00 p.m. PT in Edmonton.
     
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
  • Kamloops local Hail Ward took home player of the game honours for the WolfPack, hitting .368 per cent to finish the night with ten kills and a trio of blocks. Middle Maria Dancheva added seven kills on 15 attacks for the 'Pack.
  • Abby Guezen, recently named the CW Player of the Year, tallied a game-high 14 kills while Laila Johnston wasn't far behind with 12 for Alberta.
     
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Playing in a CW semifinal for the second time in program history, the WolfPack came out of the gates on fire with Ward getting in on a kill and a block early to put TRU up 5-1. After Alberta rallied to knot things up at 15-15, the 'Pack would score five of the game's next seven points with a block from Rida Erlalelitepe and Faith Christensen putting the visitors in front 20-17. That was the last time TRU led in the set however, as the Pandas ripped off an 8-0 run to take the first 25-20.
  • The WolfPack once again came out swinging in the second, thanks in no small part to CW Second Team All-Star Erlalelitepe who had two straight service aces to pop TRU out to a 10-3 lead. However, four-year Alberta veteran Johnston would fire the crowd and home side back to life recording five kills on what would end up a 12-2 Pandas run which would lead to a 25-21 set win.
  • Down 20-12 in the third, TRU refused to go away without a fight. Ward had a pair of blocks and a kill with Myah Cressy and Dancheva also supplying offence as TRU battled back all the way to within one at 23-22. The 'Pack couldn't keep the game alive however as the hosts took the third and final frame 25-23.
 
QUOTABLE (WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm
  • We started well in both the first and second set. We put some good service pressure on but offensively we got a little tentative. Alberta dug some good balls, I didn't think we used the edges that well and blocking defensively we took a little bit of time to find a rhythm. At this time of year, the margins are small.
  • We hung in there. I didn't like how we started the third set but we didn't go away, we put some pressure on them but they are a good team. We need to be a little cleaner to get a result, but I think we can use this as a learning tool – playing against the No. 1 team in their gym and how that feels. I thought generally we responded well but just needed to be a little bit cleaner to turn the tides of that game.

UP NEXT
  • The WolfPack will play for the chance to claim the first Canada West medal in program history tomorrow when they play either the TWU Spartans or UBC Thunderbirds in the bronze medal match at 4:00 p.m. PT in Edmonton. That game can be watched live on canadawest.tv.
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