Presidents’ Cup on the line when WolfPack face Heat

Game Information

Date: Friday, Jan. 28 – Saturday, Jan. 29
Time: 8:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Location: Kelowna, BC
Watch Live: Canadawest.tv

KAMLOOPS – Facing their Interior rivals for the final time this season, the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball team will look to clinch the Presidents’ Cup when they face the UBC Okanagan Heat in Kelowna.

Contested every year since 2014, the Presidents’ Cup is awarded to the school that takes the most victories and points in the head-to-head games across all sports between TRU and UBCO throughout the year.

A win this weekend and the ‘Pack clinch the Cup for the eighth straight season. If the Heat sweep both games, the Presidents’ Cup will come down to a tie-breaker with TRU currently holding a slim 419-418 advantage in that regard.

The games will go on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 5:00 p.m. The weekend will feature the 1-5 WolfPack looking to knock off the 4-4 Heat.

As the Canada West season enters the home stretch, every set is an important one for both squads. The WolfPack are currently behind the Heat when it comes to being one of the top three teams in the West Division that automatically qualify for the playoffs. The ‘Pack are however, in prime position to receive one of three Canada West wildcard bids.

This weekend will see the WolfPack back in action after missing out on games last weekend due to COVID-19 protocols. In their last Canada West games they were swept by the UBC Thunderbirds, but pushed UBC to the limit on Friday night in a 3-2 loss.

The played last weekend in Langley where they were swept by the Trinity Western Spartans by scores of 3-2 and 3-0.

TRU’s lone win on the season came against the Heat in a 3-2 victory inside the Tournament Capital Centre. Samuel Elgert recorded a triple-double stat line of 28 assists, 13 kills and 12 digs in the victory, the first such stat line that head coach Pat Hennelly could recall in his 16 years with the program.

By the Numbers

2 – The Pack’s two leaders in kills-per-set – Anton Napolitano (2.55, 20th) and Elgert (1.88, 37th) – are the only two players in the top 40 in kills-per-set in the conference to also average over one assist-per-set.

.348 – Elgert’s hitting percentage of .348 makes him the fourth most efficient hitter in the conference.

19 – Michael Svab leads the team with 19 total blocks, 10 of which came last weekend against UBC.

13-7 – The WolfPack are 13-7 against the Heat dating back to the 2011-12 season.

Scouting the Heat

Noah Carlson (92 kills) and Maxwell Heppell (86) are a dynamic duo in attack for UBCO. The Heat nearly toppled the perennial powerhouse Trinity Western Spartans last weekend, taking them to five sets on Friday.