By Larry Read

TRU Sports Information Officer

KAMLOOPS, BC:  Volleyball fans at the Tournament Capital Centre went home happy on Saturday night (Jan 20).  After seeing their Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team fall behind 2-0, the home team rebounded and beat the visiting University of Saskatchewan Huskies 3-2.  

The scores on the Warner Rentals court were 16-25,20-25,25-20, 25-17, 15=6.

Both teams are now 7=11 as the WolfPack swept the Huskies this weekend to win their third and fourth straight matches.

TRU was led again in this contest by Tim Dobbert with 19 kills.  Dylan Mortenson and Colin Fraser had 12 kills apiece for Saskatchewan.

SYNOPSIS

After being swept in straight sets on Friday (Jan19), Saskatchewan was looking for a little pay back and they got it early.

In the first set, they got four kills from Dylan Mortenson(1^st year, outside, Swift Current, SK) and outdug the  WolfPack 10-4 to win 25-16.

Saskatchewan won the second set as Mortenson added six more kills. He was aided by Colin Fraser ( 4^th year, outside hitter, Saskatoon, SK)  who had four kills to give him eight on the night at that point.

The WolfPack had a big lead in the third set but the Huskies came back to go on a couple of runs before bowing 25-20.  Tim Dobbert (4^th year, outside hitter, Aichelberg, Germany) leading the kills parade in that set with three. 

The fourth set saw TRU go on a 5-0 run early but Saskatchewan scored four straight to knot things at 7. It was the WolfPack who led at the tech time out by four (16-12) as Sam Taylor Parks (3^rd year, middle, Kelowna, BC) ended a long rally by driving the ball down past a fallen Saskatchewan player. The WolfPack dug out a 25-17 victory to force a fifth and deciding set.

In that fifth set, Josh Mullaney (3^rd year, outside hitter, Calgary, AB) and Dobbert led the way. Mullaney came up with four key points including three in a row to launch TRU to an 11-5 lead. Dobbert added two kills to wind up with 19 on the night.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: 

click here

KEY STATS:

Scores by set:

TRU                          16   20   25   25   15  --3

Saskatchewan       25    25   20   17     6   --2

Saskatchewan:

Dylan Mortenson:12 kills in 31 opportunities, 2 service aces, 8 digs, 1 solo block, 3 block assists

Colin Fraser: 12 kills in 32 swings, 6 digs, 1 solo block, 1 block assist

Aidan Saladana: 10 kills in 36 chances, 4 service aces, 6 digs, 1 solo block, 3 block assists

Troy Weibe: 45 assists 8 digs

TRU

Tim Dobbert: 19 kills in 42 chances, 5 digs,  6 block assists

Josh Mullaney: 12 kills in 25 opportunities, 3 service aces, 6 digs, 8 block assists

Cole Keddie (4^th year, outside hitter, Edmonton, AB)  7 kills on 21 chances, 6 digs, 1 service ace

Anton Napolitano (2^nd year, setter, Victoria, Australia) 37 assists,2 service ace, 4 digs

Landon Currie (1^st year, libero, Vernon, BC) 16 digs

RECORDS:

SASKATCHEWAN:  7=11     TRU: 7-11

QUOTES:

TRU head coach Pat Hennelly:

On the match: " We needed that. We needed to be down, come back and be in a super intense playoff atmosphere.  This was the first great volleyball game in two years for this program. Proud of the guys, they stuck with it. Things weren't that positive last year or the first half of this year.  They all worked hard, they are all good student/athletes. I am happy for the guys."

Volleyball gods being in their favor winning 50/50 balls: "You gotta be good to be lucky I always say. When you aren't thinking about things that is when the ball drops in your favor. Some of those digs and some of the things that happened there when a hot team gets some bounces. Its great to be at home."

On Josh Mullaney's improvement:  "Josh has shown what he can do. What he can do is be a world class player. He is out there. He stepped up. Landon struggled early (Currie, 1^st year, libero, Vernon, BC) and I said to the guys "Landon was rock solid last night. Someone has to step up."  Josh took it upon himself. He came up with some big blocks, big serves and big attacks. That is the guy we recruited to be one of the top players in the country."

Coaches Video Post Game Interview:  click here

Saskatchewan head coach Brian Gavlas (24 th season):

On his team dropping match after leading 2--0: " Our serve and pass game completely flipped. When that happens, you get 'flippin' results too. I liked the way we battled back after losing last night 3-0."

Coaches Video Post Game Interview:  click here

UP NEXT:

Next weekend (Jan 26-27) Thompson Rivers concludes its home stand with two matches against the University of Calgary Dinos.  The Huskies will return home to entertain the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat. 

All of the above matches will be shown on a pay-per-view basis on www.CanadaWesttv.com.

OF NOTE:   The "TRU Bookstore/McDonalds Leader of the Pack Player of the Match" was:  Mullaney.