feb 10 Spartans Overcome Two Set Deficit

Men’s Volleyball (conference)
Friday, February 10, 2006
TWU Spartans (3) at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (2)
(17-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-16, 15-6)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Spartans Overcome Two Set Deficit
#2 TWU defeats #3 Saskatchewan 3-2 after dropping first two sets

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan– The Trinity Western University men’s volleyball team took nearly three sets to find their game Friday night in Saskatoon, Sask. But when they did the second ranked Spartans overpowered the third ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies 3-2 (17-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-16, 15-6).

“We were shaky and didn’t have our bearings early. But we got in a bit of our rhythm after the third set,” said TWU Head Coach Ron Pike. “Then Mr. Howatson showed up in the fifth.”

Tonight’s match was Saskatchewan’s first meeting with TWU since being swept by the Spartans in last years CIS national semi-final. The Huskies came out strong and were looking to show that they were a match for the Spartans. Saskatchewan controlled the play and took the first two sets 25-17 and 25-20.  Then with Saskatchewan leading 2-0 and set three tied at 22 all, Trinity Western closed out the set by taking three of the last four points to win 25-23.

The loss took the wind out of the Huskies as the Spartans used the momentum to take the fourth set 25-16. In the fifth set TWU setter Josh Howatson, who finished with six service aces, served the Spartans to an 11-4 lead before TWU closing out the match 15-6.

Jeff Stel and Chris Meehan recorded team-high kills for the Spartans, with 15 each. Stel, along with teammate Jon Zuidhof, each had 10 digs.

The home team was led by Mark Dodds, who recorded 22 kills. Hart Spencer had 17 kills and three service aces, while Libero Mark Thibeault had the match-high digs, with 11.

Both teams have 13-4 records and have both already clinched playoff spots and solidified homecourt advantage for the first round of the playoffs. They will meet again on Sat, Feb. 11 at 8:00pm at the PAC on College.

Match Notes: From being tied at 22-22, TWU outscored Saskatchewan 43-23...In last years Canada West semi-final TWU trailed Saskatchewan 14-11 in the fifth set, before TWU’s Howatson served the Spartans to the a 16-14 win ...The Spartans then defeated the Huskies 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-12) in last years CIS semi-final match...The last time TWU lost to Saskatchewan was 3-0 in the 2004 CIS semifinal match. The Huskies went on to win the gold medal over Alberta, while TWU earned the Bronze over Manitoba...

-TW-
 

                              Volleyball Box Score
Trinity Western vs Saskatchewan (Feb 10, 2006 at Saskatoon, SK)
Trinity Western        |     ATTACK      |SET| SERVE |SRV|DEF|  BLOCK |GEN
## Name                 GP|  K   E  TA   PCT|  A| SA  SE| RE|DIG|BS BA BE|BHE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3  Josh Howatson.......  5|  2   1   6  .167| 45|  6   1|  0|  3| 0  6  0|  0
5  Jeff Stel...........  5| 15   8  33  .212|  0|  0   2|  1| 10| 1  1  0|  0
7  Chris Meehan........  5| 15   1  18  .778|  0|  1   1|  0|  3| 0  8  0|  0
9  Steve Rogalsky......  5|  8   3  23  .217|  0|  0   5|  1|  5| 0  5  0|  0
12 Doug van Spronsen...  5|  7   2  15  .333|  0|  0   0|  0|  3| 0  3  0|  0
13 Jon Zuidhof.........  5|  2   3  14 -.071|  0|  0   3|  3| 10| 0  0  0|  0
1  Mark Lindemulder....  5|  0   0   0  .000|  0|  0   0|  0|  8| 0  0  0|  0
8  Jeff Lindemulder....  1|  0   0   0  .000|  0|  0   0|  0|  0| 0  0  0|  0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals..............  5| 49  18 109  .284| 45|  7  12|  5| 42| 1 23  0|  0
TEAM ATTACK PER GAME                               TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 12.5
Game  K  E  TA   Pct
1  11  7  24  .167   GAME SCORES               1  2  3  4  5  TEAM RECORDS
2   9  3  27  .222   Trinity Western..... (3) 17 20 25 25 15  13-4
3  12  3  36  .250   Saskatchewan........ (2) 25 25 23 16  6  13-4
4  11  5  25  .240
5   6  6  15  .000
Saskatchewan           |     ATTACK      |SET| SERVE |SRV|DEF|  BLOCK |GEN
## Name                 GP|  K   E  TA   PCT|  A| SA  SE| RE|DIG|BS BA BE|BHE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2  Brandon Needham.....  5|  4   3   8  .125|  2|  0   0|  0|  0| 1  4  0|  0
4  Mike Walch..........  5|  2   0   6  .333|  0|  0   0|  0|  1| 0  3  1|  0
6  Mark Dodds..........  5| 22  14  50  .160|  1|  2   2|  1|  9| 0  1  1|  0
7  Hart Spencer........  5| 17   9   5 1.600|  1|  3   3|  0|  5| 0  1  0|  1
9  Joel Ens............  5| 13   5  27  .296|  1|  0   3|  2|  5| 0  2  0|  0
17 Scott Mitchell......  5|  0   0   1  .000| 47|  0   1|  0|  6| 1  3  0|  1
1  Cole Hintz..........  1|  0   0   0  .000|  3|  0   0|  0|  0| 1  0  0|  0
8  Dan Quintal.........  4|  0   0   0  .000|  0|  1   0|  0|  0| 0  0  0|  0
18 Mark Thibeault......  5|  0   0   0  .000|  0|  0   0|  4| 11| 0  0  0|  0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals..............  5| 58  31  97  .278| 55|  6   9|  7| 37| 3 14  2|  2
TEAM ATTACK PER GAME                               TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 10.0
Game  K  E  TA   Pct
1  12  4  22  .364   Site: Saskatoon, SK (PAC)
2  19  4  32  .469   Date: Feb 10, 2006   Attend: 288   Time: 2:00
3  16 11  33  .152   Referees: Kelly Langill, Murray Sackmann
4   8  5  27  .111
5   3  7  13 -.308

Last Updated: 2009-02-16
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca