Weekend split for WolfPack after loss to No. 4 Spartans

QUICK FIRE

• The Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's volleyball team will be coming back to Kamloops with a split against one of the top ranked teams in the country after they fell 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-23, 25-19) to the TWU Spartans Saturday night.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS

• Rida Erlalelitepe led the 'Pack with 17 kills. Hail Ward added another 15 to go along with two aces, four blocks and 12 digs. Libby Meldrum recorded 40 assists and a team-high five blocks.
• Maryn Boldon paced the Spartans with 14 kills while Emma Graca added nine on just 15 swings.
   

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A long TWU run was the difference in the first set. With the score tied 13-13, the hosts ripped off seven-straight points to take a commanding 20-13 edge. Ward led TRU with five kills in the frame but the Spartans were able to see out the first with a 25-17 victory.
• The WolfPack bounced back to take the second. TRU outhit TWU .286 to .081 and recorded five blocks to the Spartan's one. A 7-1 WolfPack run to start the second that featured an ace from Meldrum, two kills from Erlalelitepe and a block from Ward and Myah Cressy gave TRU the early lead. The WolfPack were able to keep TWU at bay for the rest of the frame, never letting the hosts get closer than to within three points as Ward ended the set with a solo block to give the 'Pack a 25-18 victory.
• An incredibly close third set went to the Spartans. Trailing by three points at 21-18, the WolfPack tallied five of the next seven points with a kill from Ward knotting the set up at 23-23. After a TWU timeout, the Spartans responded by scoring the next two points to take the set 25-23.
• The Spartans jumped out to a big lead in the fourth and while a Madison Maichin service ace and back-to-back blocks from Meldrum and Faith Christensen brought the WolfPack within striking distance, the Spartans pulled out the 25-19 victory.

QUOTABLE (WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm)

• I think if we were able to finish off the third set we could have gotten a different result.
• Trinity was better tonight than last night, they put more pressure on us from the service line, kept us out system and made it harder to score the ball.
• We scored enough points to win the game but we gave them too many free points so when we are making that many unforced errors and giving them points they don't have to work for it makes it really tough to win a match against a good team. Hopefully we can learn that lesson, find some better solutions when things are a little bit off and build from there.

NOTABLE

• The loss was just TRU's third of the season and brings an end to their seven-game winning streak.
• The WolfPack remain at the top of the Canada West standings with a record of 11-3 and 33 points to their name. They are ahead of the Alberta Pandas who are 10-2 and on 31 points.
• The WolfPack entered the weekend ranked 7th in the nation while TWU was ranked 4th.

UP NEXT

• TRU will be off on a bye next weekend. They will return to action when they host the Fraser Valley Cascades inside the TCC on Friday, Jan. 23.