Mar 3 TWU Middle Attack Too Much For Queens Univer

Men’s Volleyball (CIS National’s Semi-Final)
Friday, March 03, 2006
TWU Spartans (3) vs. the Queens University Golden Gaels (0)
(25-17, 25-12, 25-23)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Spartan Middle Attack Too Much For Gaels
#2 TWU sweeps #7 Queens University to earn berth in CIS semi-finals

HAMILTON, Ontario – The Trinity Western University men’s volleyball team used a powerful middle attack and timely blocking to power their way past the seventh seed Queens University Golden Gaels 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-23) at the CIS National Championship Friday afternoon at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. The win moves TWU into tomorrow’s semi-final match against the third ranked University of Manitoba. The Spartans match against the Bisons is scheduled for a 6 pm EST start and can be heard live on TWU’s Spartan Web Radio at www.gospartans.ca or www.spartanwebradio.ca

The Gaels had no answer for the Spartans’ middle hitters; Chris Meehan (Clearwater, B.C.)and Justin Pankratz (Mission, B.C.). The two fifth year players combined for 17 of the Spartans 38 kills, with Pankratz hitting at 69% and Meehan hitting at 63%. In addition to their strong attack at the net Pankratz and Meehan each added two serves ace’s apiece to the TWU cause.

The first set was back and forth, but the strong attacking of All-Canadian Meehan  gave Trinity Western a 25-17 opening set win.

In the early goings of set two the two teams exchanged points. Meehan opened a 3-2 lead for the Spartans with a big kill down the line. The Trinity Western blockers built that lead to 8-5 by the first technical timeout. The Spartans then capitalized on a number of Queen’s miscues to move ahead 14-8. A Seth Schalk (Red Deer, Alta.) kill increased TWU’s lead to 15-8 and the Spartans led 16-9 by the second technical timeout.

Out of the timeout an Andrew Hawkes (Grand Prairie, Alta.) float serve snuck over the net for an ace, moving TWU further ahead 17-9. The Queen’s defence scrambled to keep them in the set, but the blocking of TWU proved to be too much for the Gaels too handle. Justin Pankrantz (Mission BC) scored back-to-back points for the Spartans to close out the set. 

To start set three, Trinity Western continued to control the contest taking a 6-0 lead to the open the set. A monster kill by Meehan put the Spartans up 7-1. Despite the six-point deficit, and Meehan on the bench, the Golden Gaels started to respond. Luke Lichty (St. Catharines, ON) provided some momentum with a well-placed kill in the corner to cut the TWU lead to 7-2. A huge solo block by Nick Gralewicz (St. Catharines ON) gave Queen’s further life closing the gap to 8-4.

As Trinity Western continued to move towards a victory Queen’s chipped away at their lead. A Mohamed Slaibeh (Ottawa ON) kill followed by a team block closed the score to 11-7. The third set Queen’s effort was highlighted by Adam Simac’s (Ottawa, ON) big kills, which kept them within striking distance at 16-12.

The Gaels continued to play catch up with the Spartans, trailing by 4, 21-17. A TWU error, and huge Simac block, cut led to 22-19, as Queen’s eventually closed the gap to one at 22-21. The Spartans looked to close out the victory but were denied on their first opportunity, as Queen’s made a huge block. Not to be out done and wanting to seal the victory, TWU’s Steve Rogalsky (Maple Ridge, BC) made a huge block of his own to lock up the match.

Pankratz led all scorers with a game high 10 kills for the victorious Spartans. Teammate Josh Howatson was the driving force behind the Spartan offence tallying 33 assists, also a game high.

The Golden Gaels were led by Lichty, who had 8 kills, and Daniel McCrae’s 6 (Brampton, ON) digs.

Photo Gallery available at:
http://www.athrec.mcmaster.ca/cisvolleyball/game2/index.htm

QUICKIE STAT LEADERS

Trinity Western
Kills: Justin Pankratz (10)
Blocks: Steve Rogalsky (1 solo, 2 assisted), Chris Meehan (3 assisted)
Digs: Josh Howatson (10)
Assists: Josh Howatson (33)

Player of the game: Chris Meehan

Queen’s
Kills: Luke Lichty (8)
Blocks: Adam Simac (1 solo, 1 assisted)
Digs: Daniel McCrae (6)
Assists: Devon Miller (26)

Player of the game: Adam Simac

SEEDING, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times LOCAL / ET)

1. Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West champions / 19-1 regular season, 2-0 playoffs)
2. Trinity Western Spartans (CW finalists / 16-4 regular season, 3-1 playoffs)
3. Manitoba Bisons (CW bronze medalists / 13-7 regular season, 3-1 playoffs)
4. Saskatchewan Huskies (CW semi-finalists / 15-5 regular season, 0-2 playoffs)
5. Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champions / 19-1 regular season, 1-0 playoffs)
6. Laval Rouge et Or (QSSF champions / 15-5 regular season, 2-1 playoffs)
7. Queen's Golden Gaels (OUA champions / 16-4 regular season, 3-0 playoffs)
8.  McMaster Marauders (OUA semi-finalists / 15-5 regular season, 1-1 playoffs)

Thursday, March 2

Quarter-final #1: Manitoba 3, Laval 0 (25-9, 25-23, 28-26)
Quarter-final #2: Trinity Western 3, Queen’s 0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-23)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: No. 5 Dalhousie vs. No. 4 Saskatchewan
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 8 McMaster vs. No. 1 Alberta

Friday, March 3

13:00 Consolation #1: Laval vs. Queen’s
15:00 Consolation #2
18:00 Semi-final #1: Manitoba vs. Trinity Western 
20:00 Semi-final #2

Saturday, March 4

11:00 5th place
13:00 Bronze medal
16:00 Championship final (live on TSN)

-TW-

-contributions from McMaster Sports Information

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                              Volleyball Box Score
                          TWU Men's Volleyball 2005-06
    #7 Queen's Golden Gaels vs #2 TWU Spartans (Mar 3, 2006 at Hamilton, ON)

    Queen's Golden Gaels   |     ATTACK      |SET| SERVE |SRV|DEF|  BLOCK |GEN
 ## Name                 GP|  K   E  TA   PCT|  A| SA  SE| RE|DIG|BS BA BE|BHE
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2  Jeff Demeza.........  1|  2   0   3  .667|  0|  0   1|  0|  2| 0  0  1|  0
 3  Stuart Hamilton.....  2|  0   0   0  .000|  0|  0   0|  0|  1| 0  0  0|  0
 4  Devon Miller........  3|  0   0   2  .000| 26|  0   1|  0|  5| 0  1  0|  0
 5  Mohamed Slaibeh.....  2|  3   1   9  .222|  0|  0   0|  2|  1| 0  1  0|  0
 6  Steve Willis........  3|  0   0   1  .000|  0|  0   0|  3|  4| 0  0  0|  0
 8  Daniel McCrae.......  3|  3   4  19 -.053|  0|  0   1|  0|  6| 0  0  0|  0
 9  Andrew Bridgeman....  2|  3   2   7  .143|  0|  0   3|  3|  5| 0  0  0|  0
 11 Luke Lichty.........  3|  8   4  21  .190|  0|  1   5|  3|  5| 0  0  1|  0
 13 Ryan McCracken......  3|  3   1   6  .333|  1|  0   0|  0|  0| 1  0  2|  0
 14 Adam Simac..........  3|  7   2  12  .417|  2|  0   0|  0|  3| 1  1  1|  0
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............  5| 29  14  80  .188| 29|  1  11| 11| 32| 2  3  5|  0

 TEAM ATTACK PER GAME                               TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 3.5
 Game  K  E  TA   Pct
   1  11  3  22  .364   GAME SCORES               1  2  3  4  5  TEAM RECORDS
   2   7  7  29  .000   Queen's Golden Gaels (0) 17 12 23  0  0  16-4 : 3-0 playoffs
   3  11  5  30  .200   TWU Spartans........ (3) 25 25 25  0  0  16-4 : 3-1 playoffs
   4   0  0   0  .000
   5   0  0   0  .000

    TWU Spartans           |     ATTACK      |SET| SERVE |SRV|DEF|  BLOCK |GEN
 ## Name                 GP|  K   E  TA   PCT|  A| SA  SE| RE|DIG|BS BA BE|BHE
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  Mark Lindemulder....  1|  0   0   0  .000|  0|  0   1|  0|  0| 0  0  0|  0
 2  Seth Schalk.........  3|  5   2  17  .176|  0|  1   1|  0|  9| 0  2  1|  0
 3  Josh Howatson.......  3|  0   1   2 -.500| 33|  1   1|  0| 10| 0  0  0|  2
 5  Jeff Stel...........  3|  9   2  16  .438|  0|  0   0|  0|  7| 0  1  0|  0
 7  Chris Meehan........  3|  7   0  11  .636|  0|  2   1|  0|  1| 0  3  5|  0
 8  Jeff Lindemulder....  3|  0   0   1  .000|  0|  0   0|  1|  9| 0  0  0|  0
 9  Steve Rogalsky......  3|  7   1  21  .286|  0|  2   5|  0|  4| 1  2  0|  0
 10 Justin Pankratz.....  3| 10   1  13  .692|  1|  2   0|  0|  0| 1  0  1|  0
 14 Stephen Nash........  1|  0   2   3 -.667|  0|  0   1|  0|  0| 0  0  1|  0
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..............  5| 38   9  84  .345| 34|  8  10|  1| 40| 2  8  8|  2

 TEAM ATTACK PER GAME                               TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 6.0
 Game  K  E  TA   Pct
   1  12  1  20  .550   Site: Hamilton, ON (Burridge Gym)
   2  12  2  25  .400   Date: Mar 3, 2006    Attend:     Time:
   3  14  6  40  .200   Referees:
   4   0  0   0  .000
   5   0  0   0  .000

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