Men’s Volleyball
Champions Series: Spartans' depth key to men’s volleyball repeat
EDMONTON (U SPORTS) – The Trinity Western Spartans captured their second straight U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship, defeating the host Alberta Golden Bears 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 27-29, 25-23), Sunday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
The 2017 U SPORTS FOG Men’s Volleyball Championship win by Trinity Western gives their men’s volleyball program five Tantramar Trophies in their history. This is also the second time the Spartans have won back-to-back national titles, with the others coming in 2011 and 2012.
“Whenever we play the Bears at this time of the season, it always turns into one of these classics. Two really great volleyball teams putting on a show, just really great volleyball,” said an emotional Ben Josephson, head coach of the Spartans. “I’m just so proud of our kids for dealing with that environment, we have these great leaders on our team that pushed through.
“I’m just so grateful to be a part of this team. It’s going to be hard to leave these guys behind,” said Sclater. “That’s the thing I love the most, just playing every day with my best friends. I’m just really grateful I could be a part of this. I’m proud of how we fought back, how we found ways to get through and win when it wasn't easy.”
Fifth-year Spartan, and 2017 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year Ryan Sclater finished his career with a 12-kill performance, adding eight digs and five block assists.
“I’m just so grateful to be a part of this team. It’s going to be hard to leave these guys behind,” said Sclater. “That’s the thing I love the most, just playing every day with my best friends. I’m just really grateful I could be a part of this. I’m proud of how we fought back, how we found ways to get through and win when it wasn't easy.”
Fourth-year Spartan Blake Scheerhoorn finished with a game-high 22 kills on 43 attempts, committing only three attacking errors, earning the Player of the Match. Spartan setter Adam Schriemer led the Spartans offence with 48 assists on Sunday, earning the 2017 U SPORTS FOG Men’s Volleyball Championship MVP.
Fifth-year middle Taylor Arnett led Alberta with 16 kills in his final U SPORTS game, adding two total blocks. Fellow graduating student-athlete Brett Walsh also chipped in 48 assists, eight digs and an ace.
“I thought we worked really hard tonight. Our guys were really wound up to start, we let a lot of really easy balls drop to start the match. It’s a really good team we were up against,“ said a visibly upset Terry Danyluk, head coach of the Bears. “We can’t afford to let them hit something that isn't a tough shot, and not scooping those balls up when you have the opportunity. They are really well coached, they adapted, we adapted, but we ran a little short when the time came.”
Scheerhoorn was unstoppable in the opening set, going a perfect 7-for-7 with his attacks, leading Trinity Western to a 25-20 opening-set win. What is normally the greatest part of the Bears team, their middle blocking, worked against them in Sunday’s final. The Spartans stuffed Alberta three times in the opening-set win, and 15 times in the match.
The second set was one dominated by Scalter, as well as the Spartans’ tremendous pressure generated off their serve. Sclater found the floor with five kills on just nine attempts, while adding one of the five Spartans’ aces. In a set that saw eight ties and three lead changes, the Spartans were better late, taking the second by the same score.
Alberta got to within one set of their Canada West foe, winning one of the best sets of volleyball this season, 29-27 in the third. The Golden Bears also had to fight off two championship points in the set, thanks to a pair of massive kills from Arnett.
“The third and the fourth sets is when that game turned into some truly great volleyball,” continued Josephson. “The first couple sets I thought our service pressure put them into some trouble, and then they tightened that down. That’s probably the best they have passed all season. Coming off last weekend, I can only imagine how hard Terry Danyluk, Brock Davidiuk, and Dale Johns coached up that team. They worked really hard tonight. That’s the best they played all season. Talk about peaking at the right time, and it turned into an epic.”
Alberta’s peak, however, wasn’t high enough, as the Spartans captured the championship with another epic set win, 25-23 in the fourth. With the set tied at 21, a kill by Aaron Boettcher, coupled by three attack errors by the Bears gave Trinity Western the match. Boettcher also earned the championship-winning point, blocking Arnett in the middle.
“We got comfortable with not being smooth at times, not winning points the way we are used to,” said Sclater about his team’s performance in the fourth. “Alberta was blocking really well. We had to make some good shots that weren't scoring, but we found a way to grind through that, and come out on top.”