Spartans sweep

 

 
 
 

TWU kept its perfect home record intact with a weekend sweep of Manitoba at the Langley Events Centre.

With a dominating performance from middle Alicia Perrin leading the way - one in which she tallied a career-high 19 kills - the Trinity Western University women's volleyball team earned its second win in as many nights over Manitoba.

The Spartans took the second half of the weekend doubleheader in four sets Saturday at the Langley Events Centre.

Set scores were 25-22, 26-28, 25-22, and 25-16.

With Perrin leading the charge, the Spartans (who improved to 14-2) won their five Canada West match in a row and, through 16 conference matches, still have yet to play in a fifth set.

The win also keeps the Spartans' perfect home record alive as they have now earned victories in all nine matches at the LEC this season.

The Bisons (7-9) have now lost four Canada West matches in a row and six of their last seven.

After collecting just two kills in Friday's win over Manitoba, Perrin's 19 kills bettered her previous career high of 16, which she has posted four times, most recently earlier this year against UBC Okanagan on Dec. 1.

"Alicia was a little frustrated after yesterday," said Spartans coach Ryan Hofer , regarding Perrin. "We made a commitment to figuring out what needs to happen to make a better connection between her and [setter] Kelci [French]. We did a little work last night and we did a lot of talking and we made a concerted effort to make sure she got more volume today."

Perrin said she was connecting way better with French on Saturday, as opposed to Friday.

"Last night was kind of a struggle but I feel we got our connection back, which is good," she said, following Saturday's win. "I feel I was able to play a lot better. She started setting me a lot higher, which is what I needed. I felt like I was hitting really low and I wasn't making good choices. Kelci and I talked about it and changed a few things and it worked much better."

After Perrin, it was Amy Ott aiding the TWU offence with 10 kills to go with nine digs and four blocks. Nicole Bazin had five kills and a match-high nine blocks while Amber Brown had eight kills along with a match-high three aces and a team-high 14 digs.

French had a career-high 45 assists as well as five kills. French set her previous high of 43 earlier this year against Brandon Jan. 12.

For Manitoba, who was again playing without outside hitter Rachel Cockrell, it was Taylor Pischke leading with a team-high 18 kills as well as two aces and four blocks. Crystal added nine kills while libero Nicole Hall had a match-high 17 digs. Setter Christina Souza had 38 assists.

As for the Spartans, Hofer said his team did a good job managing the ball of the Manitoba serve, adding that it was one of TWU's better passing nights.

"We needed that because they're a good blocking team and they're a great defensive team," he said. "We needed to be in system more than they were tonight."

"Kristen [Moncks] passed exceptionally well. Amy was solid for us again, just playing well in the back row and blocking well and then just crushing on important balls. I was really impressed with Amy's serve this weekend. She's taken it to another level. And then Kelci did well distributing the ball and keeping Manitoba off balance."

With TWU up 23-22 in the third set, Perrin got her seventh kill of the set, which was followed by a roll shot kill from Brown that gave the Spartans the win.

The fourth set started in TWU's favour with four straight points and the Spartans never let up. Manitoba got three in a row to make it 4-3 but after that, TWU didn't allow the Bisons any closer. The Spartans built their lead to as much as nine points, at 14-5. Then, after Manitoba put together a short run to make it 21-16, the Spartans scored the final four points to take the set by nine.

Led by Royal Richardson and Amber Brown, who combined for 28 kills, the Spartans made quick work of visiting Manitoba, winning in three straight sets Friday at the LEC.

From the first set to the third, it was the Spartans' Richardson, who finished with 15 kills and a .591 attacking percentage, and Brown, who finished with 13 kills, a match-high 12 digs and three aces, leading a TWU side that was decidedly the better team throughout.

The Spartans will travel to Calgary next weekend to play Mount Royal Jan. 25-26.


Original source article: Spartans sweep
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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