Image Credit: UBC Thunderbirds

By Victor Kaisar

WolfPack Volleyball Recap

WolfPack swept by nationally ranked Thunderbirds in final road games of season

Feb 2, 2025 | 10:29 AM

VANCOUVER — It was a tough final road weekend for the TRU WolfPack volleyball teams as they matched up against the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver.

The WolfPack women were swept for the second consecutive weekend, as they dropped a 3-0 (25-10, 25-21, 25-10) decision to the top-ranked Thunderbirds. They went into the weekend ranked eighth in Canada, but have now lost four in a row.

Rida Erlalelitepe accounted for half of the WolfPack’s kills as she finished with 11 on the night. Maria Dancheva also recorded one solo and pair of block assists, as TRU dropped to 10-6 on the season.

“I won’t say it’s our worst effort of the season – I think the effort was definitely there – it was just the worst execution,” Head Coach Chad Grimm said. “We had trouble in stressful times sticking with what we needed to do.”

“Hopefully we take those lessons and build upon it because I don’t think we represented ourselves very well here this weekend.”

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Education - another trouble spot

May 11, 2025

Two and Out

PETERS: The highs and lows of Kamloops council

May 09, 2025

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: May 8, 2025

May 08, 2025

The WolfPack men pushed the fifth-ranked Thunderbirds to five sets though they finished on the wrong end of a 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 25-19, 26-28, 15-9) scoreline. They came very close to their third win against a top-five team in Canada in as many gameweeks following triumphs over Winnipeg at home and Alberta on the road.

Sam Flowerday finished with 19 kills and a pair of aces to go with a pair of solo blocks for the WolfPack. Rylan Ibbetson added 12 kills while Tyson Koops recorded 29 assists and four block assists.

The 4-12 WolfPack are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in Canada West. They’re in 12th place, with the top ten teams advancing to the playoffs.

After two-straight weekends on the road, the WolfPack will close out the Canada West season at the Tournament Capital Centre. They’ll host the Mount Royal Cougars on Feb. 7 and 8, and the Brandon Bobcats on Feb. 14 and 15.