Photo credit Andrew Snucins / Courtesy: Thompson Rivers University Sports Information

KAMLOOPS, BC (CIS)- The University of Alberta Golden Bears survived a scare but the two time defending national champions have moved on at the 2010 CIS Men’s Volleyball Championship.  The Golden Bears were able to shake 1200 screaming fans, partisan for the home town Thompson Rivers University WolfPack.  The Bears beat TRU on Friday (Mar 12) 3-1.  The scores were 25-21,20-25,20-25,22-25.

Championship website (including complete stats): http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball

“It was a great game,” said Bears head coach Terry Danyluk.  “ I expected to weather a storm.  Knowing the crowd that would be here, the emotions that would be here, I knew that Thompson Rivers would play well.  It took us a while but we got it done.”

“I thought we played well,” explained WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “But then we got ancy at times when we shouldn’t have.  I thought Thomas Jarmoc (5th year, left side, Calgary AB) made a great one handed kill in the fourth set which changed the momentum.  We got one earlier in the game from Spencer Reed (1st year, libero, Prince George, BC).   That was the difference maker. We hit a ball that would have been a point for us on most nights but Jarmoc saved the game for them.”

Alberta was led by Spencer Leiske (4th year, middle, Lacombe, AB).  He had19 kills on 35 chances.  He also had six digs and a solo block. 

“He was a stud out there on the court but not serving,” stated Danyluk. “ Hopefully he’ll get better as the tournament wears on.”

Jason DeRocco (3rd year, left side, Winnipeg, Man) and Jarmoc, the CIS second team All-Canadian both had 12 kills.  Mike DeRocco (5th year, setter, Winnipeg, Man) had 43 assists.
Robin Schoebel (4th year, outside hitter, Monaco) was the top man for TRU with 15 points in 31 chances.   CIS Rookie of the year Kevin Tillie (1st year, left side, Cagnes Sur Mer, France) had 13 kills, and ten digs.  CIS first team All-Canadian Gord Perrin (3rd year, outside hitter, Creston, BC) chipped in with 10 kills and 11 digs.  Reed had 11 digs as well.  Colin Carson (1st year, setter, Prince George, BC) had 40 assists.

“This was the best we have ever played against the Bears,” said Hennelly. “ We got all ancy in the third set, which is expected but I wish we could have got the match to a fifth set. It would have gone either way.”

Alberta now moves into the championship side semi final. They play Saturday (Mar 13) at 6 pm PDT.  TRU will fall to the consolation semi final and play at 3 pm Saturday (Mar 13).

STATS LEADERS

Alberta
Kills:  Spencer Leiske (19), Jason DeRocco (12), Thomas Jarmoc (12)
Blocks: Thomas Jarmoc (1), Spencer Leiske (1)
Digs:Mike DeRocco (13), Erik Mattson (11)
Assists: Mike DeRocco (43)
 BlackBerry player of the match: Spencer Leiske

Thompson Rivers
Kills: Robin Schoebel (15), Kevin Tillie (13), Gord Perrin (10)
Blocks: Gord Perrin (2), Michael Hammond (1)
Digs: Gord Perrin (11), Spencer Reed (11), Kevin Tillie (10)
Assists:  Colin Carson (40)
 

SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times LOCAL: Pacific Time)

Friday, March 12

Quarter-final #1: Laval 3, Montreal 0 (25-20, 25-20,, 25-18)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: Trinity Western 3  Queen’s (25-19,15-23,25-19)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: Alberta 3  Thompson Rivers 1  (25-21,20-25,20-25,22-25)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 3 Dalhousie vs. No. 6 Calgary (SSN Canada)

Saturday, March 13

13:00 Consolation #1: Montreal vs. Queen’s 
15:00 Consolation #2: Thompson Rivers vs. Loser QF #4 
18:00 Semi-final #1: Laval vs. Trinity Western  (SSN Canada)
20:00 Semi-final #2: Alberta vs. Winner QF #4 (SSN Canada)

Sunday, March 14

13:00 5th place 
15:00 Bronze medal (SSN Canada)
18:00 Championship final (SSN Canada)

-CIS-