Uphill climb for Spartans volleyball

Posted by admin on Jan 20, 2009 in Sports | 0 comments

The Spartans women’s volleyball team shocked the University of Alberta Pandas twice this past weekend as they upended the No. 2 ranked team in Alberta.

“It was an outstanding weekend. I believe our team has gone another level,” said Trinity Western University coach Ryan Hofer. “Alberta plays very well at home and I consider it a great opportunity earned for us to walk out of here with two wins.”

Both games on Friday and Saturday night proved to be a back and forth battle between two teams that deserve to go all the way. This included a spirited first set on Saturday that the Spartans pulled out 32-30. The Spartans played well on all areas of the court by out-blocking and out-serving the Pandas in front of their home crowd in Edmonton.

The Spartans have entered the home stretch with momentum even after splitting a two game series against the No. 5 ranked Manitoba Bisons. The road to the playoffs will not get any easier though, as the Spartans will have their last two home games this weekend and will finish off the year with four games on the road in the Prairies. Those road games will be against the third-ranked University of Brandon Bobcats. Yet, with the Spartans winning nine of their last 11, the road could be just the challenge the team needs to head into the playoffs with full steam.

Unfortunately, it is going to be a tougher stretch for the men’s volleyball team as they dropped both games against the U of A Golden Bears to fall to a tie for fourth place in Canada West.

“When we were consistent we were really sharp, but for us to take them out we will need to play a perfect brand of Spartan volleyball,” TWU coach Ben Josephson noted in the post-game.

Granted, the Alberta team has not lost a game yet this season and is a favourite for the National Title, but this proves that the Spartans may not be up for the challenge that post-season volleyball will bring.
The Spartans will now return home to face a top-ranked Thompson Rivers squad in a game that is what I would call a “must win” for the team. We know the Spartans can play with the best teams out there; they just need to play their brand of volleyball.