Game Recap
Men’s Volleyball (CIS Bronze Medal Match)
Sunday, March 04, 2007
TWU Spartans (3) vs the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (0)
(25-18, 25-22, 25-21)
SPARTANS SWEEP THUNDERBIRDS FOR BRONZE
-TWU earns 4th CIS medal in four years, Howatson and Rogalsky honoured
HAMILTON – The top-seeded and 2005-06 national champion Trinity Western Spartans rebounded from a heart-breaking 3-2 semi-final loss to Alberta to sweep the No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds in straight sets (25-18, 25-22, 25-21) Sunday afternoon in the bronze-medal match of the 2007 CIS men’s volleyball championship, marking their fourth podium in as many years at the end-of-the-year tournament.
Championship website (complete stats): www.cisport.ca/e/championships/m_volleyball/2007
The Spartans captured their first-ever Tantramar Trophy as CIS champions 12 months ago, after claiming silver in 2005 and bronze in 2004.
The bronze-medal duel was a rematch of last week’s Canada West final, won in four sets by Trinity Western.
UBC finishes in fourth place in its first appearance at the CIS tourney since 1989.
CIS player of the year Josh Howatson earned game-MVP honours for the Spartans in his final university outing. The setter from Victoria had 30 assists, 3.5 blocks, three kills and two service aces in the win.
“After last night we were devastated that we were not going to be in the final. But we have all had good careers, we’ve medaled ever time that we have been to nationals and we wanted to make sure that we finished on a high note,” said Howatson. “I’ve played with some of these guys for four years and we have we have spent a lot of time together, hundreds of hours in the gym and it means a lot to win for these guys.”
Second-team All-Canadian right side Steve Rogalsky (Maple Ridge, B.C.) was also a force finishing with a team-high nine kills.
Howatson’s and Rogalsky’s performance over the last three matches resulted in both being named to the tournament all-star team.
Right side Andrew Bonner (Cobourg, Ont.) was one of the few bright spots in a losing cause for UBC, leading all players in the game with 16 kills and tying for the team lead with seven digs on his way to the ‘Birds MVP nod.
Having played a pair of five-set matches on Friday and Saturday, the Spartans still found enough energy to jump out to 8-6 and 16-10 leads at the technical breaks of the opening frame. The Canada West champions did not let up and cruised to the easy 25-18 win.
The Thunderbirds looked much more solid in the next two sets, but it still wouldn’t be enough.
UBC took an early 8-3 advantage in the middle stanza, but the momentum quickly shifted TWU’s way and the Spartans went ahead in the set for the first time at 14-13 on a thunderous Rogalsky kill, before widening the gap to four points, at 20-16.
A pair of blocks by Bonner brought the ‘Birds back to within two, but Doug Van Spronsen (Dawson Creek, B.C.) had two key kills late in the set to help close the deal for the Spartans.
The scenario was much of the same in the third, with UBC taking the lead early, 6-4 and 8-7, before seeing Trinity Western tie it at 12 all and opening a four-point advantage at 16-12.
The ‘Birds once again rallied late and found themselves within one point at 21-20, but a pair of Howatson aces combined to a serve into the net by Bonner sent the Spartans home with the bronze medal.
STAT LEADERS
Trinity Western Spartans
Points: Steve Rogalsky (10)
Kills: Steve Rogalsky (9)
Blocks: Clayton Peters (3)
Digs: Mark Lindemulder (4)
Assists: Joshua Howatson (30)
Player of the Game: Joshua Howatson
UBC
Points: Andrew Bonner (18)
Kills: Andrew Bonner (16)
Blocks: Ian Simpson (2)
Digs: Andrew Bonner (7), Spencer Holowachuk (7)
Assists: Jared Krause (16)
Player of the Game: Andrew Bonner
SEEDING, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times ET)
1. Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West champions)
2. UBC Thunderbirds (Canada West finalists)
3. Winnipeg Wesmen (Canada West bronze medalists)
4. Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West semi-finalists)
5. Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champions)
6. Laval Rouge et Or (QSSF champions)
7. Queen’s Golden Gaels (OUA champions)
8. McMaster Marauders (OUA finalists)
Friday, March 2
Quarter-final #1: No. 2 UBC 3, No. 7 Queen’s 0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-14)
Quarter-final #2: No. 3 Winnipeg 3, No. 6 Laval 1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22)
Quarter-final #3: No. 4 Alberta 3, No. 5 Dalhousie 1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-19, 25-18)
Quarter-final #4: No. 1 Trinity Western 3, No. 8 McMaster 2 (23-25, 25-27, 25-23, 26-24, 15-9)
Saturday, March 3
Consolation #1: No. 6 Laval 3, No. 7 Queen’s 1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-18, 25-20)
Consolation #2: No. 5 Dalhousie 3, No. 8 McMaster 1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-19)
Semi-final #1: No. 3 Winnipeg 3, No. 2 UBC 0 (27-25, 25-16, 25-19)
Semi-final #2: No. 4 Alberta 3, No. 1 Trinity Western 2 (25-23, 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12)
Sunday, March 4
5th place: No. 5 Dalhousie 3, No. 6 Laval 0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-13)
Bronze medal: No. 1 Trinity Western 3, No. 2 UBC 0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-21)
15:30 Championship final (live on The Score): No. 4 Alberta 2 vs. No. 3 Winnipeg 3
-CIS-
