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Spartans volleyball men鈥檚 team prepares for quarter-finals

Coach predicts a challenging series against Brandon
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Spartans men鈥檚 volleyball team put up 12 service aces en route to a straight sets victory (25-17, 25-19, 25-21) over Mount Royal in Game 2 of the Canada West quarter-finals Friday, Feb 21, at the 91原创 Events Centre. (TWU)

91原创-based Spartans men鈥檚 volleyball team is preparing to play Brandon Bobcats in the Canada West semifinals on Thursday, following last week鈥檚 win over Mount Royal.

鈥淚f Brandon is healthy, they are every bit as good or better than we are,鈥 warned TWU Head Coach Ben Josephson.

鈥淭hey were the number two pick in the preseason, and when healthy, they are at least as good as that. We have earned the right to play these games in our city, on our court, in front of our friends and family. That鈥檚 the right we鈥檝e earned by having the best season, and if there鈥檚 ever a chance to beat Brandon in a best two-of-three it鈥檚 right here at the LEC.鈥

Friday against Mount Royal, TWU鈥檚 12 service aces were one shy of tying second-most all-time for a single game in program history, as Jackson Howe led the way with five. Howe and Pearson Eshenko each added eight kills for the Spartans, while Jacob Kern chipped in 10 and Derek Epp recorded 33 assists and nine digs in the win.

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Spartans outside Eric Loeppky meanwhile recorded six kills, and now sits just one back of TWU alum Nicholas Del Bianco (2010-2014) for sole possession of third all-time in career kills, with 1,297.

The Cougars were led by Chris Byam, who had 10 kills while hitting .471 in the match.

TWU opened the match on a 3-0 run, holding the lead for the entirety of the set before winning it 25-17. The Spartans recorded a total of six aces, including three from Howe. Eshenko added four kills on attack for TWU, with Mount Royals鈥 Byam also adding four.

After the Cougars took the opening two points in the second set, the Spartans would counter on a 9-3 run to take a 9-5 lead. TWU would then carry that lead for the rest of the set, leading by as much as seven points (17-10) before winning the set 25-19 off a Howe kill to take a 2-0 lead. Howe would add two more service aces in the set, as TWU had 11 heading into the third.

Both teams traded points frequently through the early going of the third set to the tune of 10-10. The Spartans broke free to lead by as much as five points, but Mount Royal would overtake TWU late at 20-19. A pair of Jesse Elser kills however would lead the way for the Spartans, as the home side would hold on for the three-set victory.

TWU hit .329 (41-14-82) in the match compared to Mount Royal鈥檚 .232 (26-10-69).

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 volleyball teams earn victories for 91原创

The win improved TWU to 16-2 all-time against Mount Royal, as the Spartans also won both regular season matchups earlier this season (Jan. 10-11).

The Spartans have achieved 13 kills in a match on four different occasions, with their last coming against MacEwan Nov. 1, 2019 (W 3-0).

Next, Spartans advance to take on the Brandon Bobcats in the Canada West semifinals beginning Thursday, Feb. 27th, 8 p.m. at the 91原创 Events Centre.

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