Box Score Cougar's sweep Wolf Pack in dominant weekend
Brendan Stasiewich, Mount Royal Cougars Sports Information
CALGARY, AB – On Friday evening on Kenyon Court the Mount Royal Cougars completed their weekend of dominance over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack, winning in straight sets (25-22, 25-20, 25-18) for the second time in as many nights.
The trio of Tyler Schmidt (17), Andrew McWilliam (11) and Jordan Parkin (10) punished the WolfPack all night, combining for 38 kills in the three set match.
Mount Royal started the game on the same torrid pace from a night ago, throwing everything they could at the WolfPack. Tyler Schmidt came out swinging early and helped the Cougars run out to a 9-6 lead.
Graham Stoliker started a comeback with a big service ace to begin the rally. TRU, tied 9-9, then sparked one of the best rallies of the season. The Cougars and WolfPack dove all over the court, trying not to concede the tiebreaker. Finally the WolfPack put it away to take their first lead 10-9.
TRU tested Mount Royal and kept the match close trailing only 16-15 going into the media timeout.
A heads up tip play by Tyler Schmidt seemed to have turned the tide, putting Mount Royal up 20-17 and forcing the WolfPack to take their first timeout. The Cougars continued their solid play out of the timeout, and eventually took the first set 25-22.
Tyler Schmidt carried his tenacious play into the second set, again smashing nearly every ball set his way down into the floor, helping the Cougars take a 16-12 lead.
Continuing the team's solid play, Jonathon Phillips made one of the digs of the season as he sprawled across the hard-court to get a hand on a WolfPack spike attempt. The ball eventually went to teammate Jordan Parkin, who sent his eighth kill down to give the Cougars an 18-15 lead.
Minutes later Lucas King would send down his first kill of the game to give Mount Royal a 25-20 set win.
The WolfPack fought desperately to avoid a weekend shutout, coming out to a strong start in the third set behind strong play from Sam Taylor Parks. But as was the theme all weekend long, Mount Royal produced strong play in the middle and final portions of the game.
Mount Royal's front-court presence was relentless, getting hands on nearly every WolfPack hit attempt. With the score 24-18, Andrew McWilliam sent home his 11th and final kill, giving the Cougars a 25-18 set win, and a weekend sweep.
The win hoists Mount Royal back to .500, with an 8-8 record. Meanwhile the WolfPack's second loss in as many nights drops them to 4-10.
The Cougars have next weekend off while Thompson Rivers will return home to host the Saskatchewan Huskies.
Photo Credit: Adrian Shellard
