Image Credit: TRU WolfPack Athletics/A. Douglas

By Adam Donnelly

SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE

WolfPack men’s volleyball eyes final Canada West playoff berth

Feb 15, 2023 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — With the season hanging in the balance, the TRU WolfPack men’s volleyball remained loose but focused at practice on Tuesday night (Feb. 14) at the TCC.

TRU sits in ninth place in Canada West, just one spot outside of a playoff spot. With a couple of wins this weekend, and a little help, there’s a chance they could sneak into the postseason.

“We have to fight tooth-and-nail for every win, every point and this weekend is no different,” third-year Libero Dylan VanSpankeren says. “The guys are coming in ready to fight and we play our best when we’re playing loose.”

Up and down is a good way to describe TRU’s season, thus far. They swept #5 Brandon to open the year and split with both the Universities of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, who currently sit in the playoff picture. However, the ‘Pack was swept by the UBCO Heat and the MacEwen Griffins — both teams below TRU in the standings.

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“It’s everyone’s goal to make playoff primarily, and then keep going on from there,” fifth-year middle Michael Svab tells CFJC Sports. “After we had some up-and-down weekends, being able to make playoffs would be huge for the boys, and it would be great for the program, as well.”

Sam Flowerday sits in second place in kills in Canada West on the season, with 317 and is sixth overall in points, averaging 4.35 per set. He expects the WolfPack to come out ready to challenge a tough Thunderbirds team.

“Game-plan-wise, just go out there and be really stable on the block. I think that’s a big one,” Flowerday explains. “They obviously have some big jumpers and some guys who can hit high and hard, so just putting up a stable block and letting our boys defend around them as best they can is probably the best thing we can do.”

First serve in the men’s games will be at 5:30 pm on Friday evening and 3:00 pm Saturday, with the women’s games to follow. The players hope a big, boisterous crowd for both games can help propel them into that eighth and final playoff spot.

“This weekend, with a season on the line, we might as well give it a go,” VanSpankeren says. “If we lose, oh well. But if we win, great – we’ve got a playoff run.”