Canada West Quarter Final: Thompson Rivers wins way into CW semis

by Larry Read, Thompson Rivers U Sports Info

BRANDON, MB - The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have never hosted a first round playoff date in their five year history in the Canada West and, while it might hurt revenue wise, the WolfPack have proven to be pretty successful when it comes to Canada West quarter final series away from the Tournament Capital Center.

For the third straight year, Pat Hennelly and company won a first round series. And for the second time in three years, they went into the gym at Brandon University to do so.

In 2008: they swept the Brandon University Bobcats in two straight matches. In 2010, the ‘Pack won a ‘do or die' third game in the best-of-three quarter-final. It was 3-1 in favor of Thompson Rivers. The scores on Sunday (Feb 28) were 25-23,16-25,25-21, 26-24.

The WolfPack now advance to the Canada West final four next weekend (Mar 5-6) at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

"We did a good job under pressure," said Hennelly. "I have to give credit to Colin Carson (1st year, setter, Prince George, BC). He was setting beyond his years. Colin must lead the Canada West in post season service aces and he really did a good job distributing the ball."

Hennelly gave credit to Carson for hitting his team's three big hitters-Robin Schoebel (4th year, outside hitter, Monaco), Gord Perrin (3rd year, outside hitter, Creston, BC) and Kevin Tillie (1st year, left side, Cagnes Sur Mer, France). Perrin and Tillie wound up with 18 kills in the match. Schoebel, who has returned to a form not seen since early 2008-09, had 14.

The WolfPack also got their middles more involved led by Joel Caschetto (4th year, White Rock, BC). "I told Joel and others that they would have to play well in order to get some playing time," Hennelly stated. "He responded and really served well along with coming up with some key kills and blocks."

Paul Sanderson (4th year, outside hitter, Melbourne, Australia) had a match high 23 kills.

TRU will now take on two time defending national champion and 2009-10 Canada West regular season champion Alberta in the Canada West quarter-finals next Saturday night (Mar 5) at the U of A.

Last season, the WolfPack downed host Trinity in a best of three quarter-final to advance to the Final Four, where they captured the bronze medal for the second straight year.

The other two teams at the 2009-10 Canada West final four are Calgary and Trinity Western. All four teams have already earned berths to the CIS Nationals in Kamloops March 12-14.