WolfPack claim five set victory over No. 5 Huskies

SASKATOON, SK – The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball went on the road and scored a massive victory over the No. 5 ranked team in Canada with a 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-13) victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies.

The win was a massive one for TRU as not only did Saskatchewan enter the weekend as the lone undefeated team left in the conference, but it also marked the second time in three weeks that TRU has earned a victory over a nationally ranked squad on the road.

“Credit to the boys for sticking with it and coming back in the fourth and fifth sets,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “Overall a very gritty road performance and I’m proud of the guys effort and composure.”

Sam Flowerday had a team-high 17 kills while third-year outside Matthew Hamilton had the best game of his WolfPack career with 14 kills and a pair of service aces. Sam Elgert continued his amazing start to the season with 51 assists while Gavin Margerison provided a spark of the bench with five kills on just six swings to go along with a pair of blocks.

The WolfPack’s attack game was on point in the first set, with Hamilton and Flowerday putting leading the way in kills to put the WolfPack up 15-11, pushing Saskatchewan to take a timeout.  The teams traded points the rest of the way before a Flowerday kill ended the set at 25-22.

After the Huskies took both the second and third sets, the ‘Pack were able to rally and battle back.

The set shifted in favour of the WolfPack after it was tied 16-16, with four kills from Flowerday and additional kills from Hamilton and Ryan Ibbetson to win the set 25-21 and push the game to a fifth set. The Huskies struggled in the fourth set, with costly errors providing opportunities for the WolfPack’s offence.  

Saskatchewan jumped out  to an early 11-6 lead in the fifth and final set, pushing TRU to take a timeout. From there the ‘Pack  took seven of the next nine points to tie the set 13-13. An attack error from Saskatchewan and a kill from Gavin Magerison would put the set to rest and send the ‘Pack to victory.

NEXT UP 

The rematch between the Huskies and the WolfPack gets underway on Saturday, November 4 at the Physical Activity Complex at 2:00 PM (pt).