PREVIEW: Back at home, WolfPack ready to face Cascades

Game Information

Date: Friday, Jan. 21 – Saturday, Jan. 22
Time: 6:45 p.m. & 3:45 p.m.
Location: Tournament Capital Centre
Watch Live: TICKETS // Canadawest.tv

KAMLOOPS – When the Thompson Rivers WolfPack women’s volleyball team takes to the court this weekend it will be a return to normal and at the same time almost something new.

Slated to host the Fraser Valley Cascades on Friday at 6:45 p.m. as well as on Saturday at 3:45 p.m., the weekend will feature the first home games for the WolfPack in exactly 70 days.

It will be a crucial weekend when it comes to the playoff hopes for both squads. With the 1-5 Cascades currently occupying fourth place in the West Division and the 0-6 WolfPack in fifth, the two teams are vying for position in a tight Canada West race. The top three teams from the three CW divisions automatically qualify with three further wildcards also getting in, so finishing fourth in the division will be key.

A young WolfPack team was swept by the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver last weekend, falling 3-1 on Friday before going down 3-0 on Saturday. Rookie Brooklyn Olfert was a standout for the ‘Pack finishing the weekend with a career-high 20 kills over the two games en route to being named the WolfPack Athlete of the Week.

This weekend will be the first time the Cascades play a regular season game since all the way back on December 3. In their last action they were swept by the Trinity Western Spartans by back-to-back scores of 3-0.

There will be history made inside the TCC this weekend regardless of the outcome. This is Fraser Valley’s inaugural season of Canada West play and Friday will mark the first time that the two rivals will meet in meaningful action.

3 Things

1: Fans 12-and-over attending the games will be required to show proof of full vaccination and masks are mandatory inside the TCC.

2: Per provincial guidelines attendance will be limited to 50 per cent capacity.

3: Fierce rivals in soccer and basketball, this weekend will mark the first Canada West volleyball games between the two schools.

By the Numbers

2.11 – Olfert leads the ‘Pack with 2.11 kills-per-set, good enough for 32nd in the conference and just .02 behind Cascade leader Sadie Wilson.

67% – 88 of the Cascades 131 kills have come from three players: Sadie Wilson (34), Kristen McBride (27) and Grace Warkentin (27).

7 – Rookie Faith Christensen leads the ‘Pack with seven total blocks on the season.