SPARTANS HOST NO. 1 THUNDERBIRDS IN FINAL CW WEEKEND

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL (CANADA WEST)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
TRINITY WESTERN VS BRITISH COLUMBIA
PREVIEW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS HOST NO. 1 THUNDERBIRDS IN FINAL CW WEEKEND

LANGLEY, British Columbia – This weekend the No.5 Trinity Western women’s volleyball team will have a good test as they head into next week’s play-offs. The Spartans will match up against the No. 1 University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a two match set this Friday and Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre. Follow the game live with live stats on Canadawest.TV. You can also follow the Spartans on Twitter @TWUSpartans or on YouTube Spartans-SID.

Trinity Western Spartans (12-6)
Last Weekend: Calgary 3-1 L, 3-1 L
2011 CIS Rank: 5
2010-2011 CW Record: 15-3, 2nd
2010-2011 CW Tournament: 3-1, 2nd
2010-2011 CIS Tournament: 2-1, 3rd

The Spartans have been in fine form this season and have qualified for the Canada West playoffs, despite a disappointing series in Calgary last weekend.

Trinity Western were uncharacteristically swept last weekend as they were hosted by the Calgary Dinos. In game one the Spartans started out hot, easily cruising to a 25-18 set victory against their hosts.  In the second set the Dinos came back to even out the game with a 25-23 set win. But it was the third set when things went downhill for the Spartans.

Despite leading in the middle of the set, the Spartans found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard as the Dinos went on a scoring streak. By the end of the set the Dinos earned themselves a 25-18 win. However the worst was yet to come for the Spartans, as they delivered a weak performance in the fourth set and were unable stage a comeback. The game ended with the Spartans on the losing side of a 25-13 set and the 3-1 game.

Royal Richardson delivered the most kills of the game, with 19, while Amy Lescheid was strong for the Spartans in the loss by getting 17 kills and digs.

The Spartans battled hard in the rematch but were ultimately unable to generate enough pressure to defeat the Dinos. Calgary took the first set with a 25-18 score, which was quickly followed by a second set that the Dinos won 25-20. But the Spartans were not to be finished so easily. The third set was given to the Spartans, on the strength of some strong serves late in the game by Amber Brown.

But one set victory would not be enough, as the Spartans battled but ultimately fell in a 27-25 fourth set to lose the game 3-1.

Jodi Neufeld recorded 17 digs in the match, while Lescheid added 12 digs of her own and a game-high 14 kills.

British Columbia Thunderbirds (17-1)
Last Weekend: Brandon 3-0 W, 3-0 W
2012 CIS Rank: 1
2010-2011 CW Record: 15-3
2010-2011 CW Tournament: 2-0
2010-2011 CIS Tournament: 3-0

The reigning CIS Champion women’s volleyball team comes to TWU riding high on their 17-1 record. The Thunderbirds have proven their talent this season, and with only one loss this season the Thunderbirds may be the Spartans toughest challenge yet.

Last weekend the Thunderbirds proved their worth against the Brandon Bobcats by winning six sets in a row in convincing fashion. In set one the Thunderbirds completely overwhelmed their unranked opponents, taking a lead from the beginning. Their 20-10 lead towards the end of the set led to an easy 25-15 set victory for UBC.

In the second set, Brandon tried to make a game of it. The Bobcats matched the Thunderbirds point for point throughout the middle of the game. But by the final minutes of the set, Brandon was once gain overwhelmed by the streaking Thunderbirds, and UBC took a 25-21 win.

All it took to finish off the game was a quick 25-14 set to give the Thunderbirds the 3-0 match victory.

UBC was led by Kyla Richey’s 10 kill performance, which was the highest of the game. Shanice Marcelle and Briana Liau Kent each contributed 13 digs to the Thunderbird effort.
Game two was more of the same, as the Brandon team was never able to get their footing and never broke the 20-point mark. The Thunderbirds started the match with a 25-11 set win which was quickly followed up by another win, this time to the tune of 25-16. The Thunderbird never gave Brandon the chance to catch up, as UBC finished with a 25-13 set. In the end, the Thunderbirds took a speedy 3-0 game win.

Richey and Rayel Quiring finished the game with the most kills, posting eight and seven, respectively.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2012-02-09
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca