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TRU WolfPack now ranked #6 in CIS men's volleyball

Courtenay's Brad Gunter continues to impress at outside hitter position

 

 

 

The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball season has hit a groove of major proportions.

The WolfPack have entered the Canada West Christmas break winners of five of their last six matches. This past weekend (Nov. 29-30), Thompson Rivers went into Calgary and swept the Mount Royal University Cougars in back-to-back 3-0 decisions.

The scores on Saturday were 25-22, 25-23, 26-24.   TRU enters the break with a record of 8-4 and have moved up to #6 from #7 in the latest CIS top 10 rankings.

“We have a great feeling out there on the court,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “The guys just want to keep on playing.  We have won some close matches of late and I think the confidence we have  picked up over the last few weeks will help us in the stretch run.  As much as we would like to play some more matches, we have worked very hard in the off season and in the pre-season and we are very tired.”

The WolfPack again got a solid performance from Courtenay's Brad Gunter (3rd year, outside hitter). The Junior National team member had a team-high 16 kills in 36 swings with nine digs and a block assist.

“Brad has been solid every match this term,” said Hennelly.  Casey (Knight, 4th year, outside hitter, Salt Spring Island) had another solid night as well. He wound up with 13 kills in 23 chances with three service aces, three digs and a solo block.

When asked if the team has what it takes to make it into the Canada West playoffs for the first time in three years, Hennelly said: “Eight wins could be enough but one never knows in a league as strong as Canada West.  I said at the beginning of the season that if we could be .500 by Christmas we would be sitting in pretty good shape.   I think we have distanced ourselves from Mount Royal, UBCO and Saskatchewan in the past few weeks.”

SIDE OUTS The WolfPack will head to Hawaii after Christmas for some exhibition matches … their  first Canada West match in 2014 will be Jan. 10 when they host the Brandon Bobcats at the TRU gym in Kamloops ...

 

– TRU WolfPack