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Spartans progress to win
LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 10 Trinity Western
University men’s volleyball team learned from their mistakes
and improved their way to a solid 3-1 win over the No. 7 University
of British Columbia Thunderbirds Saturday night at the Langley
Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14
weekend sweep of the Thunderbirds improves TWU to 2-0, while the
losses drop UBC to 1-3.
“Last night UBC would not go away and played us hard to force
a fifth set. Tonight we talked to our guys about how that team had
earned our respect and had earned us playing our best to beat them,
because they were going to come at us hard and try and force a
fifth set,” commented TWU head coach Ben Josephson.
“Our guys responded and played a great fourth set.”
After hitting only as high as 22 percent in the first three sets,
and leading two sets to one, the Spartans went on a tear in the
fourth set. TWU hit at 42 percent, limited UBC to 8.8 percent and
dominated the net with four blocks to send the Thunderbirds home
with an 11 point loss, 25-14 in the fourth set.
UBC’s best set was the start of match. The Thunderbirds hit
at 18 percent to the Spartans two percent to earn a 25-20 first set
win. UBC led 8-5 and 16-14.
In the second and third sets, the Spartans gradually took away the
Thunderbirds offence, while eliminating their unforced errors. TWU
made 10 attack errors in the first set, but adjusted to make five,
five and two in the next three sets, while UBC went from four
errors in the first set to seven in each of the next three
sets.
Steve Marshall (Abbotsford, B.C.) with 13 kills and 17 digs and
Marc Howatson (Victoria) with 12 kills and 10 digs led the Spartans
attack and defense, while Charlie Stewart (Tauranga, BOP) with 13
kills and Robert Bennett (Vancouver) with 10 kills led the
Thunderbirds. UBC libero Blair Bann (Edmonton) led all players with
23 digs. TWU setter Ben Ball (Abbotsford, B.C.) finished with 36
set assists, while UBC setter Ryan Zwarich (Vegreville, Alta.)
finished with 32 assists.
The Spartans now have a week off of Canada West play. They are back
at it again on Nov. 13-14 when they will host the Brandon
University Bobcats. The Thunderbirds are also off for the week.
Their next Canada West match is at the University of Saskatchewan
Huskies on Nov. 13-14.
Match Notes: TWU finished at 19 percent (48-22-132), while UBC
finished at 16 percent (46-25-130)…the Spartans had 10 team
blocks to the Thunderbirds nine…both teams made 54
digs…
Source:
Scott Stewart
Sports Information Director
Trinity Western University
