The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's volleyball team has hit the .500 mark for the first time in over three seasons.
The WolfPack are now 4-4 after sweeping the University of Regina Cougars. On Saturday night (Nov 1) at the Tournament Capital Centre, Thompson Rivers won 3-0.
The scores were 26-24, 25-19. 25-22. Regina falls to 1-5.
"It is important moving forward that we win on back to back nights," said Thompson Rivers head coach Chad Grimm. " It is the first time that we have come out with two great performances. Yesterday, it was a gritty five setter. It was ugly but we won. I thought tonight that our performance tonight was a little smoother and a little better."
The WolfPack were led for the second night in a row by Iuliia Pakhomenko (3rd year, outside hitter, Donetsk, Ukraine). She had 17 kills in 34 swings with three assists, two service aces, 11 digs, two solo blocks and one block assist.
On the weekend: she had 50 kills in 100 opportunities with 22 digs, four assists, 22 digs, two solo blocks and two block assists.
"When she is on her game she is really hard to stop,' Grimm stated. " She hits the ball at a lot of different angles and a lot of pace. She has that competitive fire and take a swing when it counts."
"I am just doing what I have to do, Pakhomenko said about her weekend performance. " I just love to play volleyball."
"This was a big challenge for us," she added about the weekend sweep. "We seem to have had bad luck losing the second match the last few weekends. This time, we put everything together. It feels great to achieve this goal of winning two in a row."
Grimm says while Pakhomenko has been superb in their first eight matches, other players are coming through too. " Yesterday, we talked about Taneille (Neufeld, 1st year, outside hitter, Winnipeg, MB) coming through. Today: Gabby (Fortin, 2nd year, libero, Coquitiam, BC) started at libero because she came off the bench yesterday and did so well. Taneille was struggling a bit today and I put Alyssa (Wolf, 4th year, outside hitter, Surrey, BC) in and she did a great job offensively and passing the ball. She looked much more comfortable than yesterday."
Wolf finished with nine kills in 21 chances with five digs. She was named the TRU Bookstore/McDonalds "Leader of the Pack" player of the match.
Fortin had four digs as libero while setter Kara Twomey (3rd year, Winnipeg, MB) had 35 assists and six digs.
Regina was led by Michelle Sweeting (5th year, middle, Maryfield, SK) with nine kills in 19 chances. Cheslea Ziolkowski (5th year, right side, Weyburn, SK) had seven kills in 27 opportunities and nine digs. Leah Shevkenek (1st year, outside hitter, Weyburn, SK) had nine digs and 25 assists.
The WolfPack hit the road next weekend (Nov 7-8) as they visit the Brandon Bobcats. Regina will host Mount Royal.
Next home action for Thompson Rivers is November 14 th at the Tournament Capital Centre when they entertain the University of Winnipeg Wesmen.
SERVICE ACES: After the match, The WolfPack signed autographs for the ten elementary schools who were at the Tournament Capital Centre for the WolfPack's annual tournament.