Nov 25 Spartans Pushed by Bobcats

Women’s Volleyball (Conference)
Friday, November 25, 2005
TWU Spartans (3) vs. the Brandon University Bobcats (2)
(25-10, 25-12, 22-25, 22-25, 15-8)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Spartans Pushed by Bobcats
Ninth Ranked TWU goes to five sets in 3-2 win over Brandon

LANGLEY, British Columbia - Statistically the ninth ranked Trinity Western University women’s volleyball team dominated Brandon University in Friday night’s 3-2 (25-10, 25-12, 22-25, 22-25, 15-8) win. But after giving up the first two sets the Bobcats did not role over, instead they came out in the third set playing aggressively and took the match to the Spartans.

“We came with full respect for Brandon and we had our ‘A’ game going the first two sets,” said TWU head “Our focused shifted in the third and fourth sets and Brandon took advantage of it. To their credit they were a different team in the third and fourth sets. They did not roll over, they were not going to hand us the match.”

The 5-2 Spartans came out firing in the first two sets. “I think Brandon was a little nervous and they did not know what to expect from us,” said Hofer. TWU took 8-3 and 8-2 leads respectively in each of the first two sets. TWU was up by identical 16-6 scores at the second time out. The Spartans ended up winning the first set 25-10 and the second 25-12.

The third set started the same as the first two sets; with TWU taking a 6-2 lead. But Brandon did not stop fighting and by the second timeout they had made a game of it, trailing the Spartans 16-14. Brandon was not content to get close. They Bobcats took the next four points to build their first lead of the match to 18-16. TWU never got back into the set as Brandon closed it out 25-22.

With a new found confidence the Bobcats started out scrapping in the fourth set. At the first timeout the visitors from the prairies trailed by one, 8-7. Brandon kept their momentum going from the previous set and took a 16-14 lead at the second timeout. TWU got to within two points, trailing 23-21, but the four set belonged to the Bobcats as Brandon took the set 25-22.

TWU regrouped after the fourth and came out in fifth set with the same efficiency that they showed in the first two sets. The Spartans jumped out to an 8-5 lead at the break and never looked back as they closed out the set 15-8.

Leigh Dreher (1st yr, leftside, Prince George) led the Spartan attack with a double-double hitting 15 kills and adding 12 digs. The Spartans balanced attack was evident with six players having seven or more kills. In addition to Dreher, TWU’s Saralyn Raugust (3rd yr, leftside, Delia, Alta) had 13 kills and Rhonda Schmuland (5th yr, middle, Calgary, Alta) added nine kills and seven blocks. Julie Blackburn (3rd yr, libero, Surrey) added 12 digs for the Spartans.

Jen Restall (Winnipeg, MB) led the Bobcats with 11 kills and 10 digs, while teammate Carly Chivers (Winnipeg, MB) added nine kills.

The two teams will match up again tomorrow afternoon at TWU’s David E. Enarson Gym. Match time is scheduled for 4 pm.

Match Notes: TWU hit for 38% kill efficiency, while Brandon hit at 8.7%...TWU hit an amazing 100% service receive in the first set. The Spartans were able to gain the point on every one of the Brandon serves in the set... TWU outblocked Brandon 12 to two...the Spartans had 17 service errors to go with six aces, while the Bobcats had four aces to go with nine service errors...

 -TW-

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