WolfPack face tough competition, earn decisive victory in final preseason action

| Box Score 2 KAMLOOPS – On the road for another preseason trip, the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball team played three games in Calgary over the weekend in their final action before the start of their Canada West campaign.
 
GAME 1: TRU 0, BDN 3 (23-25, 21-25, 21-25)
 
It was defeat in three close sets to start the weekend for the WolfPack as they fell 3-0 to the Brandon Bobcats. Dylan Annala and Sam Flowerday each had eight kills for TRU while Jakob Leineman finished with three on just five attacks through the middle.
 
“We played solid volleyball for most of each set,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “But then ended up stalling out in the end of the set. It was a solid performance from Dylan Annala offensively and we hope to rebound tomorrow against Saskatchewan.
 
GAME 2: TRU 1, SSK 3 (25-23, 23-25, 32-34, 19-25)
 
Up against the Saskatchewan Huskies a day later, TRU took the first set and just narrowly fell in extremely close second and third sets en route to a 3-1 defeat.
 
Matthew Hamilton hit .433 in the game for 16 kills while Flowerday added 12 and Rylan Ibbetson 10. Tyson Koop recorded 35 assists in the match.
 
“It was a better performance today,” said Hennelly. “Matthew Hamilton led us offensively tonight alongside Sam Flowerday.”

GAME 3: TRU 3, MRU 0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-16)

The ‘Pack ended their weekend in style with a dominant performance against the MRU Cougars. After a close 25-22 victory in the first set, TRU poured it on in the second and third sets to take the sweep.
 
Rookie Alex Howard led the way with 11 kills while Annala added seven and Hamilton six apiece.

“Matthew Hamilton and first year Alex Howard both played great on the outside,” said Hennelly. “Mason Sodaro was solid at the net and excellent from the service line.”

TRU will play their first regular season games of 2024-25 on the road in Manitoba before returning to Kamloops for their home openers on November 1-2.