PREVIEW: WolfPack end regular season with plenty to play for on Alumni Weekend

Game Information

Date: Friday, Feb. 25 – Saturday, Feb. 26
Time: 5:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Location: TRU Gym
Watch Live: In-person: Tickets // Online: Canadawest.tv

KAMLOOPS – Taking to the court in front of their home fans for the final time in 2021-22, the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball team will wrap up their home slate this weekend with plenty left to be decided in the CW playoff picture.

The games will be a part of Forward Law Weekend as the WolfPack recognize the contributions of Forward Law to the ‘Pack.

The 5-9 WolfPack will play host to the 9-5 UBC Thunderbirds at 5 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday inside the TRU Gym. The WolfPack are just one game behind the UBC Okanagan Heat for third place in the West Division. This year the Canada West playoffs will see the top three teams from the three divisions automatically qualify for the playoffs as well as three wildcards. The WolfPack have clinched a wildcard berth, but third place would get them into a different pool for the postseason.

A refreshed TRU team enters the weekend off a bye. In their last action there were positive signs for the ‘Pack despite being swept by the No. 1 ranked TWU Spartans. TRU took a set off the Spartans in their last game during which Sam Flowerday finished on nine of his 16 swings to lead the way offensively.

UBC swept the UBC Okanagan Heat last weekend by scores of 3-1 and 3-0 and enter the weekend as winners of eight of their last ten games. They have all but locked up second place in the West Division.

The two teams played twice earlier this season in Vancouver where the Thunderbirds barely held on for a 3-2 win on Friday night before sweeping the ‘Pack 3-0 on Saturday.

3 Things

1: Fans 12-and-over attending the games will be required to show proof of full vaccination. Per provincial guidelines attendance will be limited to 50 per cent capacity.

2:  For Alumni Weekend, all TRU alumni and their families can get into the matches for free by registering with the TRU Alumni App.

3: The WolfPack will honour graduating players Anton Napolitano and Kyle Taylor after their game on Friday night.

By the Numbers

103 – With two regular season games left in his WolfPack career Napolitano sits just six behind Brad Gunter for the most aces in program history.

129 – UBC leads the conference with 129 service aces this season. Matt Neaves (0.75) and Michael Dowhaniuk (0.67) sit first and second in Canada West in aces-per-set.

4-8 – The WolfPack are 4-8 against the Thunderbirds in their last 12 regular season games played, but did sweep the T-Birds 2-0 at home the last time these teams played in Kamloops back in 2018-19.