(Image Credit: Alessandro Boggo/Thymos Capture via TRU WolfPack)

By Victor Kaisar

Canada West Volleyball

WolfPack swept by Alberta in final home weekend of 2025-26 Canada West regular season

Feb 1, 2026 | 9:58 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack volleyball teams couldn’t find a way to victory against the University of Alberta this weekend.

In a rematch Saturday (Jan. 31), the WolfPack women dropped a five set thriller 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 25-22, 19-25, 9-15) to the Pandas, who are the top-ranked team in Canada. The WolfPack were ranked a program-record fourth in the nation going in the weekend.

TRU was up two sets to one – and they led 8-1 early in the fourth – but the Pandas rode a big comeback to win the set, as well as the decisive fifth set.

Rida Erlalelitepe led the way for the WolfPack with 14 kills as well as a trio of solo blocks and nine digs. Keira Gent and Hail Ward added 12 kills each as Ward also fired four aces in the match at the TCC.

“Obviously we were better tonight compared to last night but I think both teams were hanging on a little bit, both teams looked a little tired and that happens at this point of the season,” head coach Chad Grimm said.

LOOPED IN

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: February 12, 2026

1h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Are we any closer to understanding the human mind?

3h ago

Question of the Week

Do you believe major government cuts are necessary to bring the provincial deficit under control?

Feb 09, 2026

“For the most part we hung in there, we gave ourselves a chance and then obviously it’s disappointing to go up 7-1 in the fourth but they turned up the volume a little bit and we kind of went down a little bit so I think that’s a learning point for us.”

The 12-6 WolfPack are fifth in the Canada West conference with two games left as Manitoba (13-5), UBC (13-3) and Trinity Western (13-5) all have 13 wins. Alberta leads the way at 16-2.

“I think rest is always important at this point of the year.” Grimm added. “We want to make sure our bodies are feeling as good as they can and take care of school and then we will go on the road and see where the chips fall heading into the playoffs.”

Elsewhere, the WolfPack men started strong, but they lost 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 21-25, 18-25) to the Alberta Golden Bears at the TCC.

Rylan Ibbetson, Parker Bailey and Daniel Hitchens all finished with seven kills each as the WolfPack dropped to 6-12. They’re in the final playoff berth just ahead of the 6-10 Calgary Dinos.

The WolfPack are off next weekend before they close out the 2025-26 regular season on the road in Calgary against the Dinos on Feb. 13 and 14.