Nate Speijer and Chris Wilson on the block attempt in Kamloops Thursday night versus TRU. This was one of many lineup combinations used by Poitras over the three day tour. (Photo by Allen Douglas)
Men’s Volleyball (Canada West exhibition play) SCHEDULE & RESULTS
The UBC Okanagan Heat men’s volleyball continued their preseason action with a tour of northern B.C. alongside Canada West travel partner and valley rival Thompson Rivers University this weekend. The WolfPack hosted the Heat at Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops on Thursday, travelled up to UNBC in Prince George on Friday and wrapped up their weekend in Quesnel on Saturday at Correlieu Secondary.
“Our freshmen are seeing the floor a lot due to the absence of three key players,” said Heat bench boss Greg Poitras. “This experience for the young guys will help our training immensely. Definitely lots of room for improvement. We will re-evaluate again after next weekend against Trinity Western.”
Thursday, September 26, 2013
| SET SCORES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
| Thompson Rivers |
(3) |
25 |
25 |
22 |
25 |
| UBC Okanagan |
(1) |
20 |
17 |
25 |
22 |
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – On Thursday, the veteran-laden WolfPack came out strong; dominating the first two sets 25-20 and 25-17 respectively. TRU’s setter Graham Stoliker orchestrated his team’s offense very well for the night, impressing his coach with his ability to pick up balls tight to the net.
The Heat would rally in the third set to make things interesting, with fifth-year outside hitter Nate Speijer (Penticton, BC) leading the charge. A sight for sore eyes, the former Canada West All-Star made his return appearance in Heat uniform after Red Shirting last season. Speijer would finish the match with 18 kills in 43 chances.
“Nate is our best player and our top scorer,” Poitras said about Speijer. “He took a year off and is still dusting the rust off but we are obviously happy to have him back. He will just get better and better and will have a great fifth year.”
Rookie Kris McCrae (Port Moody, BC) recorded 4 kills in 13 chances in early action against a CIS opponent. Second-year setter Kristof Schlagintweit (Abbotsford, BC) dished 27 assists while third-year libero Jeremy Fostvelt chipped in 12 digs.
Friday, September 27, 2013
| SET SCORES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
| Thompson Rivers |
(3) |
25 |
25 |
25 |
| UBC Okanagan |
(0) |
15 |
16 |
21 |
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – A bustling gym of 1,400 people crammed into the University of Northern British Columbia gymnasium to watch the two Canada West competitors duke it out in round two of the weekend exhibition. It has become a regular tradition for the WolfPack to make the trek up north, as TRU coach Pat Hennelly has worked to cultivate volleyball in Prince George.
The Heat would struggle offensively against TRU with an electrified and predominantly WolfPack fan base in the stands. Though they attempted a late rally down the stretch of the third set, the Pack would cool the Heat charge to take the match in straight sets.
Poitras would continue to mix and match lineups and get his younger players valuable floor time, as is important in any preseason where you gear up for a grind like Canada West.
“We really went into the tour with no expectations,” said Heat bench boss Greg Poitras. “Player-to-player we really match up evenly with TRU. They consistently won those match ups. We are lacking in offense right now and we are making far too many unforced errors to compete.”
Saturday, September 28, 2013 – QUESNEL, B.C.
| SET SCORES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4* |
|
| Thompson Rivers |
(2) |
18 |
16 |
25 |
15 |
| UBC Okanagan |
(2) |
25 |
25 |
17 |
8 |
* Only played to 15 points
QUESNEL, B.C. – The Heat wrapped up their weekend bout with the WolfPack at Correlieu Secondary in Quesnel. Though the previous two outings felt more like regular season game atmospheres, Saturday would have a distinctive ‘friendlies’ feel to it.
Due to time constraints the teams would play on three full sets and then scrimmage the rest of the night.
Playing only three full sets, both teams liberally played their benches and experimented with lineups. The Heat would take victories in the first two sets 25-18 and 25-16, respectively. TRU turned around to nab the third set 25-17 and then would claim a fourth set to fifteen points with the Heat netting eight points.
“On Saturday night we showed what we are capable of for two sets, but couldn’t sustain,” coach Poitras said of his squad’s performance in the full sets that they played.
The valley rivals will continue to see each other a lot leading up to and including the season-opening weekend. The Heat will host the Trinity Western Spartans for back-to-back exhibitions Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6 at 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively. The following weekend TRU will host the Thompson Rivers Tournament from October 10-12 with UBC and Guelph also attending.
– With notes from Larry Read (Thompson Rivers Sports Information)
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