During the last weekend of September, the WolfPack men’s volleyball team packed their bags for a trip to Prince George to suit up for a pair of preseason matches. The team faced off against the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves in the University of Northern British Columbia gym. The ‘Pack went on to split their weekend.
While Prince George is home to the UNBC, the WolfPack has always had close ties to the city. For nearly two decades, the ‘Pack has hosted annual summer volleyball camps in the city, building lasting relationships with the Prince George Volleyball Club and its leaders. With UNBC not offering any varsity volleyball programs, the WolfPack’s visits have often filled that gap, giving local fans a chance to see high-level university volleyball in their own backyard.
Head coach Pat Hennelly told WolfPack Athletics that the history between the two institutions makes the road trip feel more like a homecoming.
“Whenever we play there, it feels like a home game,” Hennelly said in the release. “We’ve had another well-attended camp this year, and those connections have become an important part of our program.”
This preseason, Prince George fans also got the chance to watch the newest addition to the ‘Pack’s roster, Jordan Fulljames, a local who just transferred from the Camosun Chargers to wear the orange and black this season. Fulljames joins a long list of other notable Prince George locals who have worn the WolfPack jersey.
In the first game, the WolfPack opened strongly and won the first set 30-28. However, they fell short to the NW Wolves in the following three sets (21-25, 27-29, 25-14) as the NW team fed off the crowd’s energy. Britain Ward, the 6’8 middle, had a standout performance in the first game of the weekend with 10 kills, five blocks, and an ace. Newcomer Daniel Hitchens, a 6’6 outside hitter from Tauranga, NZ, and a new addition to the ‘Pack this year, also performed in the game with eight kills, six blocks, and five aces.
The next day, the ‘Pack reconvened and came back to win. Immediately, the ‘Pack started running up the score and went on to win all three sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-17), sweeping the game. Rylan Ibbetson was a force to be reckoned with, contributing 20 kills and three blocks in the game. Ibbetson was backed up by Alex Howard and Fulljames, each of whom contributed nine kills, while setter Walker Sodaro dished out 39 assists to control the match.
The weekend highlighted many new players on the WolfPack team and showcased the program’s strong following in Prince George. More than 600 fans filled the stands, many dressed in orange, creating a lively atmosphere that made the WolfPack feel right at home despite being on the road.