Thunder Open Weekend Series With Win Over Wolves

EDMONTON, AB (November 19, 2021) – The Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) Thunder welcomed the Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) Wolves Friday night to open their weekend series. Both teams exchanged leads throughout the game, but the Thunder kept the lead when it counted as they held on to win in straight sets 3-0.

The first set opened with the Thunder jumping out to an early lead. But using a timeout, the Wolves were able to get back into the set, even taking the lead at one point. But the Thunder kept their form as they regained the lead again late and withstood a late push from GPRC to take the set 25-20. The second set was much of the same story as both teams took the lead at different points with different momentum swings. But CUE was able to grab a lead when it matters and held on for a 25-22 win in the second set. They were able to carry this momentum into the third set as they jumped to an early and never looked back as they took the final set 25-19 to take the match 3-0.

After the match, Thunder head coach Ken McLaughlin commented "well done by our group staying the course when GPRC applied service pressure at key moments of the match when the lead could have flipped."

The One Team Sports Players of the Game were #6 Lane Matthews for the Wolves, and #7 Hunter Ashburn for the Thunder. "We have demanded a lot out of our young setter this season, so to see Hunter be recognized today as the Player of the Game is a feel good moment for our coaching staff" Coach McLaughlin added,

The Thunder return to action tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm as they play the second half of their weekend set against the Wolves.