Roberts Creek's Stuart Richey has helped lead the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team to a place they have never been -a top five spot in the national rankings.
The WolfPack has risen to fourth spot in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) top 10 rankings - the highest ranking for any Thompson Rivers team since the university entered CIS nine years ago.
The WolfPack, with a record of 10-4, were seventh in the rankings last week, but thanks to a sweep over the Brandon University Bobcats at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops last weekend, they have moved up behind the first place teams McMaster of the OUA and the Trinity Western Spartans. The Alberta Golden Bears have moved into the third spot.
"I think the rankings are good," said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. "We have come out of nowhere this year in terms of people's perceptions. We always believed we were a good team last year and had the inability to put things together. The emergence of Casey Knight, Stuart Richey and Colin Carson is better which you want to see as a fifth year guy. Matt Krueger has improved his game - both passing and defence andof course, Brad Gunter is having a career season."
The WolfPack has been sixth in the top 10 rankings seven times before -earlier this season on Dec. 3, three times in 2009-10 (Jan. 26, Feb. 2, and Feb. 9) and three times in 2008-09 (Jan. 20, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3). The WolfPack is on the road this week as they visit the Wesmen in Winnipeg and then return home to face Trinity Western Jan. 24 and 25.
-With files from Larry Read/TRU
