SPARTANS MAKE IT THREE STRAIGHT TO START SEASON

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – The Trinity Western Spartans opened the weekend series against Winnipeg with a 3-1 victory over the Wesmen Friday night at the Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg, Man. The 25-19, 23, 22-25, 25-20 win keeps the Spartans unbeaten at 3-0 while dropping the Wesmen to 1-2.

Second-year outside Maryn Boldon (Okotoks, Alta.) with 17 kills, and two aces, third-year outside Grace McGillivray (Langley, B.C.) with 12 kills, third-year middle Kaylee Plouffe (Sherwood Park, Alta.) with 10 kills, and four blocks, and fourth-year outside Kirsten Kampman (Chilliwack, B.C.) with 10 kills, and 10 digs led the Spartans’ attack. Selva Planincic with 17 kills, 13 digs, and three blocks, Brooke Duncalfe with 15 kills, 12 digs, and four blocks, and Christine Kolbuck with 10 kills, and three blocks led the Wesmen.

Second-year setter Sydney Gill (St. Catharines, Ont.) finished with 35 set assists for Trinity Western, while Portia Switzer finished with 37 assists for Winnipeg.

AS IT HAPPENED
The Wesmen jumped out to a 10-6 lead to start the opening set, but the Spartans used a 10-5 run to take a 16-15 lead. TWU continued their strong play and opened up the match with a 25-19 first-set win. TWU hit at .300 (13-4-30), while Winnipeg hit at .121 (12-8-33).

Winnipeg came out strong to start the second set and quickly took a 12-5 lead. TWU again closed the gap to trail 14-11. The Wesmen looked on their way to tying the match as they extended their lead to six points, 18-12. But the Spartans responded with an 8-2 turn to tie the set at 20-20.  TWU then took a 24-21 lead before taking the second set 25-23. And a 2-0 set lead. The Spartans hit at .219 (11-4-32), while the Wesmen hit at .135 (12-7-37).

The third set was even throughout with Winnipeg holding the one-point lead at 16-15. TWU looked like they were going to take the match in three as they jumped out to a 22-20 lead. But the Wesmen responded by taking the next five points to win the third set 25-20 and trail 2-1 in total sets. TWU finished the set at .149 (14-7-47), while Winnipeg finished at .186 (14-6-43).

The final set saw the Spartans jump out to a solid 16-11 lead. But a 4-0 run by the Wesmen cut the lead to one point as Winnipeg trailed 16-15. The teams exchanged points until 21-20 for the Spartans. From there, TWU would close out the set and the match with a 4-0 run to win the set 25-20 and the match 3-1. The Spartans had their best attacking set to finish at .400 (16-4-30), while the Wesmen also had their best set finishing at .345 (14-4-29).

NOTABLE

• The Spartans finished the night hitting at .252 (54-19-139), while the Wesmen finished at .190 (52-25-142).
• TWU had a 9-2 edge in aces. While Winnipeg had the edge in digs 57-55. Both teams had eight total blocks.
• The Spartans open the season ranked No. 5 in the CW annual coaches’ poll, while the Wesmen opened at No. 11.
• Last week Trinity Western defeated Fraser Valley 3-1, and 3-0 in Langley, B.C.
• Last week Winnipeg split with UBC Okanagan, winning 3-1 and losing 3-0 in Kelowna, B.C.
• The Spartans are 39-9 lifetime against the Wesmen.
• The last time that TWU lost to Winnipeg was 3-2 on November 13, 2004, 36 matches.
• TWU’s first Canada West wins came against Winnipeg in 3-0, 3-1 in the Spartans’ final two matches of their second Canada Wes season in 2000-2001. Prior to that the Spartans had gone 0-42.

UP NEXT
The Spartans will finish the weekend series with the Wesmen tomorrow evening at 6:45 p.m. (CT). The match from the Duckworth Centre can be seen live on Canada West TV.

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country, and track & field, as well as women’s rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men’s rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
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