The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack dropped a 3-0 set to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in pre-season Canada West men's volleyball action Sept. 23 at the Tournament Capital Center in Kamloops.
The scores were 25-19, 27-25, 25-20 on a night that featured the CIS home debut of Brad Gunter (Courtenay). It was the second time in 24 hours that the two squads had met as they followed up a five-set TRU victory Sept. 22 in Vernon.
Gunter, a first year outside hitter, recorded eight kills in 18 chances, a service ace and a dig. The former Vanier Towhee was a standout for Team BC at the Western Canada Summer Games.
“Brad seemed a little tired tonight,” TWU head coach Pat Hennelly explained. “That’s why I subbed him out. We have only four outside guys so I have to rotate them as much as possible. It is a tough load when you play a five-setter (referring back to Thursday night’s victory) at that intensity."
Both Hennelly and UBC head coach Richard Schick had high praise for Gunter, who reminds a lot of folks of Gord Perrin (Creston), a former WolfPack star who is now with Canada’s senior national team and playing professionally in Turkey.
“I compared him to Gord physically when I was recruiting him,” stated Hennelly. “They are both 6’7” and they both touch about the same. They have really good hand-eye coordination for big guys. I don’t want to ever compare a young guy to Gord but I was reminded of him immediately when I saw Brad. Both are small town guys, real physical gifted athletes.”
“He is definitely another Perrin,” said Schick. “They are both guys who have good control of the ball. He might even be a little bit ahead of Gord in his development at this point.”
Thompson Rivers opens up the 2011 Canada West season Oct. 28 th at home to the University of Calgary Dinos.
– TWU WolfPack