PREVIEW: WolfPack start home slate with rivalry games

Game Information

Date: Friday, Nov. 12 – Saturday, Nov. 13
Time: 5:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Location: Tournament Capital Centre 
Watch Live: In-person: Tickets // Online: Canadawest.tv

KAMLOOPS – After nearly two calendar years of practices, scrimmages and more practices the Thompson Rivers WolfPack women’s volleyball team will play  official Canada West games inside the TCC this coming weekend.

Taking on the UBC Okanagan Heat on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and again on Saturday at 2:00 p.m., the WolfPack will play their first home games in over 630 days.

An inexperienced WolfPack squad was in tough to start their season last weekend. They fell by identical scores of 3-0 in a pair of losses at the hands of the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked Trinity Western Spartans. The WolfPack finished the weekend with their best set of the season so far, pushing the Spartans to a score of 27-25 to wrap up the games in Langley.

Hosting the Fraser Valley Cascades in Kelowna, the Heat got off to a 2-0 start on their season. UBCO picked up wins of 3-0 and 3-1 over a Cascades team that was playing their first Canada West games in program history.

The two Interior rivals played twice in 2019-20 with the WolfPack taking a pair of 3-1 victories in Kamloops.

3 Things

1: Due to regional health restrictions, spectators inside the Tournament Capital Centre will be limited, so fans are encouraged to buy tickets online to ensure their spot. Fans 12-and-over attending the games must show proof of full vaccination through their online BC Vaccine Card. Masks are mandatory in the stands at all times when not eating or drinking.

2: The games this weekend will count towards the annual Presidents’ Cup standings. A challenge between TRU of Kamloops and UBCO of Kelowna, the Presidents’ Cup is awarded to the school that takes the most head-to-head victories between the two rivals. UBCO currently holds a slight advantage in the standings. After the schools tied twice in soccer, the Heat took the lone basketball meeting earlier this season. 

3: There will be hot dogs, popcorn and more available for purchase at the games this weekend.

By the Numbers

46% – Almost half of the WolfPack’s 58 points won in their opening weekend came from players in their first year of eligibility.

12 – Third-year left side Erin Mutch leads the ‘Pack with 12 kills

4-0 – The WolfPack are 4-0 against the Heat dating back to 2018-19 but were 1-9 in the five seasons before that