Game Recap
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL (CANADA WEST PLAYOFFS)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010
NO. 7 TWU SPARTANS (3) VS. NO. 6 WINNIPEG WESMEN (0)
(27-25, 25-14, 25-21)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPARTANS BACK TO CANADA WEST FINAL FOUR
LANGLEY, British Columbia – After a two year absence the No. 7 Trinity Western University men’s volleyball team is headed back to the Canada West Final Four after defeating the visiting No. 6 University of Winnipeg Wesmen 3-0 Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The 27-25, 25-14, 25-21 win gives the Spartans the best of three series two matches to one and earns TWU a spot in next week’s Final Four at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
TWU turned in one of their best performances of the year as they recovered from Friday’s straight sets loss that saw the Wesmen dominate Spartans in a straight set sweep that took just over an hour to complete.
Tonight was a different story for TWU as they were the dominant force on the court. TWU finished the night hitting an impressive 46.3 percent, with eight errors, while holding the Wesmen to 19.8 percent and 19 errors.
“That was the team that we have been building to be all season long. Skill wise, system wise, emotionally, maturity, toughness: all of the different components that it takes to be a great team,” commented TWU head coach Ben Josephson. “That is what it is all supposed to look like.”
Leading the way for the Spartans were leftside Steven Marshall of Abbotsford, B.C. with 16 kills, 10 digs at 46.4 percent, leftside Marc Howatson of Victoria with 11 kills at 52.4 percent, six digs and three blocks and leftside Paul Lindemulder of Calgary with eight kills at 54.5 percent, eight digs and four blocks. The Wesmen, who had trouble repeating Friday’s intensity, were led by outside Andrew Town of Winnipeg with 14 kills at 34.5 percent, five digs and two blocks and middle Justin Duff of Winnipeg with nine kills at 16.7 percent and five digs. “That was Howey’s best performance in a tough match. His athleticism and physicality was there. He just pumped balls. That type of performance from him was huge,” said Josephson on Howatson.
The first set was the closest of the night as the teams needed extra points to determine the outcome. Winnipeg had control early as they led 8-5 at the first break and 16-13 at the second break. But the Spartans rallied and after setter Ben Ball of Abbotsford and middle Josh Doornenbal of Edmonton had blocked outside Marc Ross of Winnipeg the Spartans had tied the set at 16-16. The two teams played side out ball to 25-25. Then the Spartans middle Rudy Verhoeff of Calgary got a continue off of a middle attack by Duff, which TWU’s Howatson was able to convert to give the Spartans set point. The two Spartans were at it again to finish the set as they combined to block Winnipeg opposite Matt Schriemer of Winnipeg to give TWU the first set 27-25. The Spartans finished the set hitting at 26.7 percent, while the Wesmen finished at 18.2 percent.
TWU used the momentum from the first set and kept rolling in the second. The Spartans jumped out to the early 8-4 lead after taking the first four points of the set. TWU took the next three points to lead 11-4 after a Lindemulder kill and forced Winnipeg into a timeout. The break slowed the Spartans, but did not stop them, as they led 16-9 at the second break on their way to a convincing 25-14 win to lead two sets to none. The Spartans hit an impressive 58.3 percent in the set, while the Wesmen struggled at 3.3 percent.
In the third set the Spartans led 8-5 at the first break and 16-14 at the second break. The set changed with the Spartans leading 17-16. TWU took the next two points, which were highlighted by a pancake dig by the Spartans Steven Marshall, to get a three point lead, 19-16, and breathing room on the Wesmen. Winnipeg kept getting to within two points, but were not able to get a run down the stretch as TWU took the set 25-21 and the match three to zero. TWU finished the final set hitting 57.1 percent, while Winnipeg finished at 36.4 percent.
“Were not a big team but we are fast and athletic and we led the league in digging for a reason and tonight the guys were resilient, which is one of the things that we always talk about,” commented Josephson on his teams defence. “We not only dug the ball but we improved out opportunities to make plays.”
The loss concludes the season for the Wesmen, while Spartans will now head to Edmonton and the Canada West Final Four, where a win at the University of Alberta will earn TWU a spot at this year’s CIS championship.
“All teams have their own path of growth and you hope you keep growing and improving. Now we are in uncharted territory for everyone on this team. The lesson stands that if we can perform like we did tonight and incorporate all of the strengths of our team I think we have a chance to do some damage these next two weeks,” Josephson commented on the teams future in this year’s post season. “But it is going to take at least that good an effort every match now.”
Match Notes: It will be the first trip to the Final Four for the entire TWU roster and for Josephson in his position as head coach. The last time the Spartans were in Edmonton for the Final Four was in 2007 when the earned the program its only Canada West title…should the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack win Sunday at Brandon University the Canada West Final Four will become a seeding tournament as all teams will qualify for the CIS championship, as TRU has the host CIS spot…TWU also out blocked Winnipeg 10 to three… in the series Winnipeg won 3-0 on Friday, while TWU won 3-1 on Thursday…
-TW-
