The Trinity Western Spartans are ranked number one in the country 鈥� and have qualified for the post-season 鈥� after taking a pair of matches over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.
The Spartans men鈥檚 volleyball team jumped from second to first in the CIS polls after beating TRU 3-1 and 3-0 over the weekend in Kamloops at the Tournament Capital Centre. They improved to 17-1 on the season.
鈥淭he good news is that we swept a quality opponent on the road,鈥� said Spartans coach Ben Josephson. 鈥淭he bad news is we performed well below the standard needed to play at this time of year.鈥�
He said a big reason for that was the play of the fifth-ranked WolfPack.
鈥淭hey made it hard on us and I don鈥檛 think we responded appropriately in our focus on details,鈥� Josephson said. 鈥淲e were sloppy in our touches and were tentative emotionally.鈥�
The Spartans won 3-1 (22-25,27-25,25-20,25-14) and 3-0 (25-23,25-23,26-24).
In the first game, Nick Del Bianco led the team with 17 kills and four blocks while Brad Kufske had 15 kills and four blocks.
Saturday鈥檚 match saw Ryan Sclater lead the way with 14 kills.
The Trinity Western women鈥檚 volleyball team is ranked fourth in the country after completing a weekend sweep of the WolfPack, also in Kamloops.
The Spartans began the season at 2-3 but have won 12 of their past 13 matches, including nine straight, to improve to 14-4 and qualify for the Canada West playoffs.
Both matches against the WolfPack were three-set sweeps 3-0 (25-11, 25-12,25-11) and 3-0 (25-12,25-13,25-20).
Sophie Carpentier led the way both nights. She finished with 12 kills, three aces, nine digs and a block assist on Saturday. This came on the heels of an 11-kill, four blocks and four dig performance. Alicia Perrin also had 10 kills and seven blocks.
