LANGLEY, B.C. – This Week in Sparta sees men's rugby play host to Central Washington at home, men's and women's volleyball closing out the regular season on the road against Thompson Rivers, men's hockey travelling for a pair of games against Vancouver Island, and track and field teams continuing their seasons at the Husky Classic in Seattle.
HOME
MEN'S RUGBY (4-1)
Feb. 14 vs. Central Washington University – Northwest Field, Langley Events Centre | 6 p.m. (PT)
NOTABLE
- In just the second official home game since re-launching the men's rugby program, the Trinity Western Spartans host Central Washington University Friday at the Langley Events Centre's Northwest Field.
- TWU has won three consecutive games, including a 24-0 win in its home debut over Western Washington two weeks ago (Jan. 31).
- It will be the first of two meetings this season between the two teams, as the Spartans also play Central Washington Mar. 28 in Ellensburg, Wash.
- TWU captain Caleb Gerth (Langley) will look to continue rolling, as the back row has scored tries in two consecutive games.
- The Spartans men's 15s team is 4-1 this season, with wins also coming against UBC Okanagan (Nov. 2), Washington (Jan. 18) and Oregon (Jan. 25).
AWAY
#1 MEN'S VOLLEYBALL (19-1)
Feb. 14 vs. Thompson Rivers (7-13) – Tournament Capital Centre | 5 p.m. (PT)
WATCH
Feb. 15 vs. Thompson Rivers (7-13) – Tournament Capital Centre | 7 p.m. (PT)
WATCH
NOTABLE
- Trinity Western's men's volleyball team wraps up its regular season this weekend, taking on Thompson Rivers Friday (5 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.) at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops.
- The Spartans are coming off a bye-week, with their last appearance coming at home in a pair of wins over rival Brandon in a rematch of last year's national championship.
- After opening the season 3-13, Thompson Rivers has won four consecutive games.
- TWU has won 18 consecutive games and have clinched first in Canada West. They have lost just nine sets all season (55-9).
- TWU outside Eric Loeppky (Steinbach, Man.) recently earned conference athlete of the month for January. He is second in conference kills-per set (3.91).
#1 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL (20-2)
Feb. 14 vs. Thompson Rivers (16-6) – Tournament Capital Centre | 7 p.m. (PT)
WATCH
Feb. 15 vs. Thompson Rivers (16-6) – Tournament Capital Centre | 5 p.m. (PT)
WATCH
NOTABLE
- The Spartans women's volleyball team closes out its regular season schedule on the road against Thompson Rivers this weekend at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops.
- TWU has won six consecutive games and sit first in Canada West with a 20-2 record. They are just two points up of second-place Mount Royal (19-3) heading into the final weekend.
- The Spartans are coming off a pair of straight-sets wins over Brandon at home two weeks ago (Jan. 31-Feb. 1), while the WolfPack split games against MacEwan last week.
- A weekend sweep would clinch the Spartans first-place in the conference for the second consecutive year, along with home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
- TWU's has won 10 consecutive conference games against Thompson Rivers, with its last loss coming Feb. 12, 2016 (3-1).
MEN'S HOCKEY (17-1-0-1)
Feb. 15 vs. Vancouver Island (9-7-0-2) – Nanaimo Ice Centre | 7:15 p.m. (PT) |
WATCH
Feb. 16 vs. Vancouver Island (9-7-0-2) – Nanaimo Ice Centre | 4 p.m. (PT) |
WATCH
NOTABLE
- The Spartans men's hockey team hits the road for a pair of games against Vancouver Island Saturday (7:15 p.m.) and Sunday (4 p.m.) at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
- TWU is coming off its fourth and fifth consecutive wins last weekend and have already clinched first in the BCIHL.
- The third-place Mariners meanwhile are looking to get back on track after dropping their last game 5-1 against TWU at home.
- The Spartans will look to contain Vancouver Island forward Garrett Dunlop, who sits first in BCIHL scoring with 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists). Spartans forwards Evan Last (Surrey, B.C.) sits second with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists).
- TWU is 14-2 all time against the Mariners, with its last loss coming Feb. 24, 2018 on the road (6-5).
TRACK & FIELD
Feb. 14 at Husky Classic | Dempsey Indoor Centre, Seattle | 2 p.m. (PT)
Feb. 15 at Husky Classic | Dempsey Indoor Centre, Seattle | 10 a.m. (PT)
NOTABLE
- Spartans men's and women's track and field teams continue action this weekend as they travel to Seattle for the Husky Classic at the Dempsey Indoor Centre.
- It's been a year full of record-breaking performances for both teams, with Praise Olatoke (Glasgow, Scotland), Grace Konrad (Edmonton) and Giovanni Hernandez (Tepic, Mexico) headlining last weekend.
- Olatoke will lead a men's side after running a personal best time of 21.25 in the men's 200m to break the TWU record of 21.35 last weekend at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Hernandez meanwhile tied his own TWU record, vaulting 5.06m.
- Konrad will look to once again lead the charge for the Spartans women's team, after setting records in the 200m (24.83s) and 400m (55.58s).
- Jennifer Kits (Langley) will also look to build upon last week, after finishing first in both the 1000m (2:56.73) and 1500m (4:45.99). Her 1000m run was a personal best.
About TWU
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey and as an independent team in men's rugby. The men's and women's hockey programs will begin playing in Canada West and U SPORTS in 2020-21. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.
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