January 20th, 2009
Langley, BC
This past weekend the Spartans traveled to Edmonton to battle the undefeated and number 1 ranked team in the country, the Alberta Bears. Sadly to say the Spartans come home to sunny BC without being able to claim the first victory against the Bears of the 08-09 campaign. The Spartans do come home feeling good about the weekend win less as it was.
Both nights the Spartans stuck their noses in the fight and took the Bears' best shot and a mighty blow they can deliver. Every set throughout the weekend was hotly contested with some of the best volleyball of the season on both sides of the court. The Bears boast a very physical team with great attacking, blocking and serving. The Spartans brought their best ball control and defense and the collision was epic. The weekend brought both teams together blending the strengths making for some exciting volleyball. The Spartans showed their great attacking ability and the Bears showed some great defense. Both teams blocked really well and the major difference in the weekend was the Bears held a major edge in the service category.
TWU held leads of up to 7 points in some of the sets and held leads of 4 in all but two sets. Alberta showed that they have been in the last seven national championship finals with some experience and toughness as they fought back to win sets at the end. While the Spartans have to feel good about knowing they can play shot for shot with the top team in the country it has to be noted that in order to win tough elite level volleyball games you must make big plays at big times. This past weekend the majority of the big plays at big times were made by the men in green. The boys in blue must recognize where they missed and make up for it for the season is long from over and the playoff picture in the Canada West is wide open.
The Spartans return home to face the upstart Thompson Rivers Wolfpack, last season's bronze medalist team. The two teams have faced each other once this season in Kamloops with the 'Pack winning in three tight sets.
Match times go Friday 8pm and Saturday 7pm.
Go Spartans
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