Pat Hennelly is ready to play the cards he’s been dealt, and isn’t about to complain about the luck of the draw.

Hennelly, head coach of the TRU WolfPack men’s volleyball team, will lead the host entry into the CIS championship, which starts today at the Tournament Capital Centre. The WolfPack is ranked No. 7, and will open against the No. 2 Alberta Golden Bears tonight at 6 o’clock.

Hennelly expected to be one of the bottom two seeds in the tournament after finishing fourth at the Canada West tournament in Edmonton on Sunday, but he didn’t think TRU would be playing the Golden Bears right off the bat. Hennelly expected to be playing the Laval Rouge et Or, the No. 1 seed and the Quebec champion.

“We knew we were getting a good team — I thought we were getting Laval, and we got Alberta,” said Hennelly. “It’s a little bit of pick your poison.

“It’s what we talked about as a team — if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. So be it. If you want to be the national champion, you have to show that you can beat anyone.”

p p p

For Frédéric Mondou, crazy beards and wacky hair have become an annual tradition. He just took it a step farther this year.

Mondou, who was named to the all-rookie team Wednesday, has half a beard, and half a head of hair. The interesting thing is that the hairy parts are on opposite quadrants — the hair on top of his head is only on his left side, while the beard is only on his right side.

It’s the third time he has had some fun with a razor for a volleyball team — while playing the last two seasons for the Limoilou Titans, who were Canadian College Athletic Association runners-up last season, he did the same.

“Last year, everything was shaved, except for the beard,” said Mondou, who hails from Vercheres, Que. “It was a very long beard.

“Two years ago, I did a long (goatee) and I took an elastic and made it into braids — it was very funny.”

p p p

The youngest head coach at the tournament is Ben Josephson of the Trinity Western Spartans, who turned 30 last summer.

Josephson is in his third season as head coach of the Spartans, after serving as an assistant coach and playing five seasons. Josephson was an assistant under Ron Pike in 2006, when the Spartans won the CIS championship.

He also was a setter from 1998 to 2003, and was the first Trinity Western athlete to win a CIS All-Canadian award. He has done wonders since taking as head coach in 2007.

“One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was: ‘Don’t try to be something you’re not; athletes will know when you’re putting it on,’ ” Josephson said. “I’m 30, and I’m going to act 30. I’m not 40 or 50 and I haven’t been around the league for 20 years.

“What I do have, maybe, is the ability to relate a little closer because I am younger.”

p p p

In terms of geography, Trinity Western is the closest university to Kamloops, located about three hours down the highway in Langley.

Josephson said he expects the Spartans faithful to come out in full force for this weekend’s matches.

“I think we should have a nice little contingent,” Josephson said. “Hopefully they’re all wearing bright yellow.”

Trinity opens against the Queen’s Golden Gaels at 3 p.m.

p p p

City of Kamloops employees worked Thursday to erect a large white screen in the southwest corner of the Fieldhouse gym.

The screen is there to block views for fans that want to watch the matches for free from the stairway in the lobby.

TRU sports information officer Larry Read wanted to remind everyone that tickets can be purchased at the door.

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca