WolfPack take first set but can’t hold off No. 5 Cougars

KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball team took the first set but were unable to stop the No. 5 ranked team in the nation, the Mount Royal Cougars, from charging back in a 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-18) loss on the road.
 
The Cougars were extremely efficient as a team hitting the ball, finishing the game with kills on .410 per cent of their attacks. The Cougars also won the battle at the net with 11 blocks to TRU’s five, but the WolfPack responded at the service line with six aces to the MRU’s one.
 
Sam Flowerday had 18 kills on the night, Rylan Ibbetson added nine while Archie Golding added six kills and three service aces.
 
Chris Byam paced the Cougars with 17 kills on his 30 swings and Jacob Van Geel added 12 kills of his own.
 
Golding ripped off three-straight aces near the end of the first set to swing things in TRU’s favour. The first year from England took the score from 19-18 all the way to 22-18 on his own before back-to-back kills from Ibbetson finished off the set.
 
After Mount Royal rebounded with a dominant 25-18 victory in the second, TRU kept things close in the third.
 
A kill from Thundersky Walkingbear gave the ‘Pack the lead at 23-22 but the Cougars were able to rip off three straight points to edge the set.

With momentum on their side the Cougars took the fourth and final set 25-18 to clinch the victory.
 
TRU now sits at 6-8 on the year where they hold sole possession of the eighth and final Canada West playoff spot. They’ll get the chance to further cement their hold on a postseason berth when they host the Fraser Valley Cascades (4-12) inside the TCC next weekend.