LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 4 ranked Trinity Western University Spartans opened the Canada West women's volleyball quarter final with a straight sets win over the No. 9 Brandon University Bobcats Thursday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The victory gives the Spartans a 1-0 lead in the best of three series.
Ourtside Sophie Carpentier (Ottawa) with 13 kills and middle Alicia Perrin (Creston, B.C.) with 10 kills led the Spartan to the 25-18, 25-14, 25-19 win. While Tori Dakin with seven kills and Shanlee McLennan with six kills led the Bobcats.
TWU setter Nikki Cornwall (Coquitlam, B.C.) ended the night with 30 set assists, while her counterpart with Brandon Mary Thomson finished with 23 set assists.
The first set was tight through to the technical timeout with the Spartans leading 16-15. After a few side outs and TWU up 18-17, the Spartans Alicia Perrin put her mark on the opening set. Perrin had three kills as TWU went on a 7-1 run to close out the opening set 25-18.
The Spartans carried their momentum into the second set as they jumped out to an 8-4 lead after another Perrin middle attack. TWU expanded their lead to 16-11 after outside hitter Sophie Carpentier found the open floor. The Spartans took three of the next four points to lead 19-12 and force Brandon into a timeout. Carpentier took over after the timeout and extended the TWU lead to 23-13 after a service ace by Carpentier. Perrin finished off the set with a kill off of an over pass to give the Spartans a 25-14 second set win.
Brandon had a stronger start in the third set and took an early 4-1 lead. However, by the technical timeout TWU had gained control of the set with a 16-12 lead. But out of the break the Bobcats behind the serving of Shanlee McLennan cut the TWU lead to one point, 16-15. TWU got some separation back, but Brandon's Jodie Baker ace made it a one point, 18-17 set. TWU's Carpentier powered the Spartans next two points from the outside to extend TWU's lead to 20-17 and force another timeout from Brandon. The break did not slow Carpentier down as she had two more kills to put TWU up 22-17. An Alicia Perrin service ace separated another Carpentier kill. Gave TWU match point at 24-18. A kill from Meaghan Robertson and a TWU attack error made it 24-19. But Carpentier finished of the match with another cross court attack to give TWU the 3-0 win.
The Spartans and Bobcats will match up again tomorrow night for game two of the best of three series. Match time at the LEC is set for 6 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre. The game will be broadcast live on Canadawest.tv.
Match Notes: Brandon finished with 8.5 team blocks to TWU's six…the winner of the best of three series advances to next week's Canada West Final Four in Edmonton.
