SPARTANS BATTLE HUSKIES IN FINAL HOME WEEKEND OF SEASON

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL (CANADA WEST)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010
TWU SPARTANS VS THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS BATTLE HUSKIES IN FINAL HOME WEEKEND OF SEASON

LANGLEY, British Columbia – With a pair of wins this weekend, the Trinity Western University women’s volleyball team can clinch a play-off spot in the Canada West this weekend. To complete that task, they must earn a weekend split as they host the Saskatchewan Huskies at the Langley Events Centre. These two teams will meet up Friday night at 6 p.m. and then again on Saturday night at 5 p.m.

The No. 5 ranked Spartans currently sit at 9-7, and in sixth spot in the Canada West. After having last weekend off, the Spartans return home after winning back-to-back games (3-2, 3-0) in Winnipeg on January 22 and 23. They have won four of their last five games.

The University of Saskatchewan comes into tonight’s contest with the Spartans at a record of 3-13. They are coming off two victories (3-2, 3-1) last weekend against winless Thompson Rivers University in Saskatoon. The Huskies only other victory came on November 20, 2009 against Simon Fraser University.

SPARTANS
The Spartans are near the top of almost every category in Canada West. They are fourth in hitting percentage averaging .201 per game, third in assists averaging 11.26 per game, third in kills averaging 12.35 per game, second in blocks averaging 2.39 per game, and second in digs averaging 15.91 per game.

Leading the team in kills and points is Kara Jansen Van Doorn. Her totals put her sixth in kills in Canada West at an average of 3.16 per game, and sixth in points at 3.81 per game. Providing a huge boost in service aces and blocking is Ismay Schon. She sits at tenth for service aces in Canada West averaging 0.33 per game and second in blocks averaging 1.16 per game. Defensively, Andrea Ball is ranked the highest for digs per game out of the eleven teams. She averages four per game. Running the Spartans offence is third year setter Lauren O’Reilly averaging 8.95 assists per game. Also to watch out for wearing the blue and white uniforms is fifth year Kim Klassen, who is second on the team in kills with an average of 2.62 per game, and second in points per game with an average of 3.04.

SASKATCHEWAN
Throughout the season, the Huskies have struggled to produce amazing statistics. They currently sit tenth in hitting percentage at .135, last in assists at 9.15, last in kills at 9.97, last in blocks at 1.52, and last in digs at 12.07.

However, they are led by Candace Heuser, who is seventh in kills in the Canada West, averaging 3.19 per game, and ninth in points with an average of 3.57 per game. Heuser also has one of the more difficult serves on the team with 11 serving aces on the season, and an average of 0.19 per game. Christie Kimber has also proven to be a factor on offence with the second highest hitting percentage on the team at .304. Erin Foster is part of the reason for that success upfront. She is ninth in assists in Canada West with an average of 8.15 per game.  Also, Shauna Weber has proved to be a defensive threat by averaging 3.53 digs a game, sitting at fifth spot in Canada West.

All matches will be played at the Langley Events Centre as well as being broadcast live on Spartan TV. Live stats will also be available.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2010-02-03
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca