Scheduled Game: WINNIPEG*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 T Winnipeg 25 25 22 23 10 2 Trinity Western 20 16 25 25 15 3 « FINAL

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Game Recap

Men’s Volleyball (Canada West)
Friday, November 24, 2006
TWU Spartans (3) vs. the University of Winnipeg Wesmen (2)
(20-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-10)

YOU NEED TO WIN THREE
-TWU rallies from 2-0 defecit to top Winnipeg

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Fortunately for the Trinity Western University men’s volleyball team it requires three sets to win a volleyball match. The #1 ranked Spartans were pushed to the limit Friday night by the #4 ranked University of Winnipeg Wesmen. TWU fell behind 2-0 before rallying to take the match 3-2 (20-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-10).

“I knew coming into this weekend that we could struggle. Winnipeg is a good team they are the number four team in the country, so you’re dealing with a really good squad, while we simply have not been pushed hard enough both in our training and in competition,” said TWU Head Coach Ron Pike. “With the caliber of Winnipeg we are very lucky to get out [of the match] by winning three straight.”

Winnipeg’s play to open the first set showed that they had one thing on their mind – knock off the champs. The Wesmen kept the Spartans on their heals for most of the set. Winnipeg took an 8-6 lead at the first timeout and extended it to 16-12 at the second break. Ben Schellenberg (Winnipeg) led the way with four attempts as the Wesmen opened the match with a solid 25-20 win.

Things went from bad to worse for the Spartans in the second set. TWU couldn’t get their timing down on offense and as such their attack did not put the Wesmen on the defensive. Winnipeg took control early as they jumped out to an 8-3 lead at the first break. By the second break the Wesmen had extended their lead to 16-10. On the back of a 50% attack efficiency Winnipeg put away TWU 25-16 to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

The defending champs fought back in the third set. Josh Howatson (5th year, setter, Victoria, B.C.) came out on fire from the back line as TWU jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the set. Winnipeg would not go away and after a Trevor Shaw (Winnipeg) kill they had tied the set at 8-8. The two teams matched each other through the middle part of the set as TWU held on to a slim 16-15 lead after the second timeout. The Spartans got a little breathing room after back-to-back attack errors by the Wesmen. With an 18-15 lead TWU played side out to take the third set 25-22.

It looked like the TWU comeback would be cut short at the start of the fourth set. Winnipeg used Richard Wiebe’s (Winnipeg) serving to take a solid 6-0 lead to start the set. The maintained their lead at 10-4. Then TWU got things going. Their passing got better, their setting got better and as a result their attack became more effective. The Spartans rallied and used a xxx run to tie the set at 15-15. The two teams matched each other to 23-23. Then a kill by Steve Rogalsky followed by an attack error by Wiebe gave the Spartans a 25-23 win to even the match at 2-2.

“The fortunate part for us was that [Winnipeg’s] run in the fourth set came early. You have enough time to chip away at it and get back in the set as long as you keep your head down,” said Pike. “I was worried that we were just going to get rolled over, but they missed a couple of key serves and we got a couple which got us back into it.”

The Spartans won the toss to start the fifth set and never looked back. TWU’s Seth Schalk (4th year, leftside, Red Deer, Alta.) served three times and Josh Howatson added four of his own at the Spartans jumped out to a commanding 8-3 lead, in the shortened set. The Wesmen would get to within three points, 11-8, but no closer.

“When you’re dealing with a team that knows how to win, which ours does, your going to have to knock us out. We are not going to just go away,” said Pike. “I was really happy that we didn’t [go away]. The guys fought through it, which was good because we were just terrible in the first two sets.”

Steve Rogalsky (4th year, righside, Maple Ridge, B.C.) with 17 kills, 10 digs, Jeff Stel with 12 kills, six digs and Doug Van Spronsen (4th year, middle, Dawson Creek, B.C.) with 11 kills and seven blocks led the Spartans, while Ben Schellenberg and Richard Wiebe with 17 kills each led the Wesmen. TWU’s Libero Mark Lindemulder (4th year, Calgary) led all players with 13 digs.

The two teams will match up again tomorrow night. Match time at TWU is set for 8 p.m.

Match notes: TWU hit at 27/7%, while Winnipeg hit at 27%...The Spartans had the edge in blocks nine to four...

-TW-

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