By Larry Read - TRU Athletics

WolfPack Rebound To Square Weekend Affair With Bisons

Jan 30, 2016 | 8:58 PM

KAMLOOPS — You can’t accuse the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team of not being dramatic.

With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, and dropping the first set of an ‘almost must win’ Canada West match, the WolfPack rebounded to beat the visiting University of Manitoba Bisons 3-1 Saturday night (Jan 30) on the Warner Rentals Court at the Tournament Capital Centre. 

The scores were 10-25,25-21,27-25,25-23.  That brings the record of Pat Hennelly’s team to 8-12 while the Bisons drop to 14-4.

“The first set wasn’t good or planned,’ Hennelly stated. “ We got beat up pretty good and I didn’t see much life on the team.  I liked the way the guys came out and played steady the rest of the way.  Manitoba pushed us hard in the third and fourth.  We are frustrated. We are not in a position we think we should be in (referring to record and playoff situation). “

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Hennelly is at a loss for words when asked what contributed to the turnaround. “I don’t know. I was looking at making a switch but decided to go with that line up for one more set and see what happens. The change has to come from the floor. Pride kicks in when you are being beaten up a little bit.  It is almost better that we lost so badly in the first set-the guys don’t have the same resolve. As a coach if you win big in the first set, you relax a bit and think it will be an easy night.  Maybe a little of that happened. I give our guys credit.  Manitoba made big pushes in the third and fourth sets. We answered the bell.”

Manitoba coach Garth Pischke felt the difference in the match was TRU’s ability to serve tough balls. “ When the games were close, they were getting some really tough serves on us and stopping us the ability to run any middle attack and they got aces at critical times. I have to give them credit for keeping our offense off guard.”

TRU was led by Randy Grundmann (3rd year, outside hitter, Winnipeg, MB).  Grundmann had 14 kills in 25 chances with two service aces, nine digs and a block assist.   He was strong all weekend prompting the question if he was more mentally inspired playing a school from his home province.  Hennelly: “ Randy knows these guys and has played alongside these guys before. That was a factor sure but Randy was great the previous two weeks against Regina and Sask. He has turned a corner. We talked to him at the Christmas break about being “The Guy” next year and be our ‘big banger’. I think he has taken that to heart. His defense has improved. His serving has improved. His passing is rock solid and is hitting the ball so hard. He almost killed a guy today-he hit him right in the chest.  Hard to say if he hits harder than Brad (Gunter, 5th year, outside hitter, Courtenay, BC) but they are in ‘the zone’ right now.

Daniel Eikeland Rod (4th year, outside hitter, Oz, Norway) had 13 kills in 35 opportunities with five digs and two service aces.  Gunter had 11 kills in 31 swings with two service aces, 11 digs and three block assists.  The Canada West all-time leader in kills and points has: 1,401 kills and 1615.5 points.

Graham Stoliker (5th year, setter, Surrey, BC) had 34 assists, one service ace, six digs and one block assist. He was named the “McDonalds/TRU Bookstore Leader of the Pack” player of the match.

“He did a good job today,” Hennelly said of his setter. “He was calm and collected and set the middle. That big kill by Kyle (Behiels, 1st year, middle, Edmonton,AB) at the end of the third set. It was the time to do it. Setting quicks takes some nerve at the end of sets. Kyle came back and got two big serves for us.  It was the perfect thing to do. I thought he was great last night and he was good tonight as well.”

Manitoba was led by Deveren Dear (4th year, right side, St. Andrews, MB) who had 25 kills in 46 swings with 11 kills, two solo blocks and three block assists. Adam DeJonckheere  (3rd year, left side, Winnipeg, MB) had 10 kills in 35 swings with seven digs and a block assist. Luke Herr (4th year, setter, Winnipeg, MB) had 41 assists, a service ace, eight digs, a solo block and a block assist.

The WolfPack hit the road for UBC next weekend (Feb 5-6).  Manitoba returns home to host the University of Winnipeg Wesmen on Thursday (Feb 4).

TRU’s final regular season home matches will be played February 12-13th against the Trinity Western University Spartans.  Both matches will be played at the old TRU Gym.  On February 13th, the ‘Pack will honor their three fifth year players: Gunter, Stoliker and Brandon Hewwing (outside hitter/middle, Calgary, AB).