(Image Credit: Alessandro Boggio/Thymos Capture via TRU WolfPack)
Canada West Volleyball

WolfPack women lose in five sets, men sweep Cascades in Canada West volleyball action

Jan 24, 2026 | 9:15 AM

KAMLOOPS — A mixed bag of results for the Thompson Rivers University volleyball teams as they split games against the Fraser Valley Cascades Friday (Jan. 23) night.

The WolfPack women lost 3-2 (16-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-14, 13-15) after they couldn’t force a comeback following a slow start against the Cascades. The WolfPack dropped to 11-4, but they remain in third place in Canada West.

Hail Ward and Rida Erlalelitepe finished with 16 kills each. Erlalelitepe added a trio of service aces while Ward had three block assists and a team-high 13 digs. Libero Olivia Andulajevic added 12 digs and 21 successful serve receptions while Madison Maichin had three aces and pair of digs.

“It was a really slow start… [and] when you are down 2-0 and you have to win three in a row against a good team, you put yourself in a tough spot,” WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm said. “I thought at times they looked like they wanted it more and that’s not a great spot to be in, especially on home court.”

“The girls turned it around and put up a fight, we could have walked off the court in three so they pushed back – and Fraser Valley played well – but hopefully [Saturday] we can start a little better.”

Elsewhere, the WolfPack men were dominant as they beat the Cascades 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-23) at the TCC to improve to 5-10 on the season.

Fifth-year outside hitter Rylan Ibbetson led with 17 kills while Merritt product Alex Howard added 10 kills. Daniel Hitchens finished with five blocks and six kills while Jakob Lienemann had six kills as well for the WolfPack, who overtook the idle Brandon Bobcats (5-9)for the final playoff spot.

The WolfPack and Cascades will rematch at the TCC, with the women kicking things off at 3:00 p.m., followed by the men at 4:45 p.m.

The WolfPack basketball teams are also in action this evening, as they face the Victoria Vikes on the road following defeats on Thursday to the Trinity Western Spartans in Langley.