SASKATOON, SK – They fought all the way to fifth set, but the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball team came up just shy of a second-straight upset victory in a 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-16) loss to the Saskatchewan Huskies
“It was a good battle tonight. Sam Flowerday had another solid offensive performance for us and we had solid momentum in the fourth before the game was stopped for a lengthy delay at the score table,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “We managed to win the fourth but could not get anything going in the fifth set.”
Flowerday had a game-high 17 kills to go along with a trio of aces for the ‘Pack. Rylan Ibbetson added nine while middle Corbin Okcerman had six kills on nine swings to go along with three solo blocks and four block assists. Setter Sam Elgert finished with 34 assists.
After Saskatchewan took the first set, the ‘Pack held the lead in set two from start to finish. Elgert put the game at set-point for the WolfPack with a service ace after the ball caught the tape, dropping short in the Huskies’ attack line. A big block courtesy of Ibbetson and Ockerman on the next play would give TRU set two, 25-19.
Serving continued to be a struggle for both teams in the third set. A missed serve into the net by TRU would allow the Huskies to regain the lead, winning the set 25-21.
Thompson Rivers had the Huskies playing keep up in set four, once again holding the lead over Saskatchewan for the duration of the set. A massive swing by Isaiah Mamer would tie the set at 22. The WolfPack, though, would force a fifth set with yet another block this time coming from Ockerman and Flowerday.
Saskatchewan would be the first to 8 in the fifth and continue to dominate, at long last taking the set 15-6 and winning the game 3-2.
TRU will have their bye weekend next week before they head to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds.
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