The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team have had a very tough first half of the Canada West season.  Mercifully it ended on Saturday (November 29) at home.   Unfortunately, they spent the final weekend of the pre-Christmas portion of the campaign hosting the top team in Canada, the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

After taking the Bears to five sets on Friday (November 28), the WolfPack - without CIS Player of the Year Brad Gunter (fourth year, outside hitter, Courtney, BC) - fell in three straight to the Bears. The scores were 25-23, 25-20, 25-20.

Alberta is unbeaten in 14 starts while Thompson Rivers dips to 5-11.

"We had some good spurts," said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. "Brad tweaked his hip flexor in the third set yesterday. He was a game time decision. It is tough mentally to make that switch. I thought Casey Knight (fifth year, outside hitter, Salt Spring Island, BC) did a good job making the adjustment. Randy (Grundman, second year, outside hitter, Winnipeg, MB) was solid on the left but we didn't have the same fight tonight. Alberta was a little sharper from the service line early and that made a bit of a difference."

"I think we put in a more consistent effort start to finish," stated Bears assistant coach Brock Davidiuk. "Our guys realized more that they had to show up with a good effort out of the gates. That was something we didn't see on Friday.  At times, we still play almost too loose and youthful.  They are young but some of them are getting up to third and fourth year.  We started with a different line up and it panned out well. The energy was really good."

Alberta was led by Ryan Nickifor (third year, left side, Sherwood Park, AB) with 19 kills in 29 chances. He had an assist, one dig and three block assists.

Ryley Barnes (fourth year, left side, St. Paul, AB) was also in double figures with 11 kills in 24 chances with two service aces, an assist, seven digs and a block assist.

Brent Walsh (third year, setter, Calgary, AB) had 26 assists.

TRU was led by Grundmann with 13 kills in 24 swings with five digs. He was named the TRU Bookstore/McDonalds Leader of the Pack Player of the Match.  

Knight had eight kills in 15 chances with six digs.

Graham Stoliker (fourth year, setter, Surrey, BC) had 145 assists, two digs, a solo block and two block assists.

Hennelly and the WolfPack have three weeks off before they host an international tournament at the Tournament Capital Centre on January 2-4. "I think it is a much needed break. I know one of the problems — and women's volleyball experienced this too — is a switching of line ups continually putting your preparation back a bit.  We had a nice little run with our crew ready to go on the floor.  It lasted for only one match. It is frustrating. It changes how you go into the week. The break is good for everyone. It is a mental break as well as physical.  We haven't had a weekend off since early September. I think all the guys will appreciate it. Hopefully we can get everyone back and healed up and on the same page."

The Golden Bears will head to California after Christmas for a tournament. Davidiuk says they have to work on a number of aspects of their game going into the second half:  "We need to keep up our skills during the break. We have had a long grueling but successful first half. It is important that the guys have a break so we don't burn them out. But we have to balance that with a continued refinement of the skills while building our team character and tactics."