SPARTANS VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCE RECRUITING CLASS- TWU Men’s Volleyball Brings Three Players into the Fold

Outside Hitter Steve Marshall

Men's Volleyball (Announcement)
Friday, March 7, 2008
Recruit Signings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCE RECRUITING CLASS
- TWU Men's Volleyball Brings Three Players into the Fold

LANGLEY, British Columbia -The Trinity Western University men's volleyball program is pleased to announce three additions to the 2008 recruiting class. The Spartans welcome outside hitter Steve Marshall (Abbotsford, B.C.), left side/libero Jarrod Offereins (Calgary), and middle Daniel Jansen Van Doorn (Langley, B.C.).

"The class of 2008 is a very talented group and each of them individually brings some very specific skills to our team," says TWU head coach Ben Josephson. "The blending of these three to the current crop of returning players make up a very good and deep cycle that will make the next few years of Spartan Men's Volleyball exciting to watch."

Marshall, a graduate of Mennonite Educational Institute in Abbotsford, will have four years of eligibility remaining after playing the past season at Douglas College, where he was named a BCCAA second team all-star.

"Steve is an exceptional athlete and an electrifying jumper," Josephson says. "His natural gifts make him very good at the net where his elevation is most utilized. Much overlooked is his defensive ability which has only improved as he has spent more time training in the beach game. Steve is a very good competitor who has a lengthy history of winning at every level he has competed at. We are very excited to add Steve to our team and are looking forward to the next four years of watching him play."

In high school the 6'3 outside hitter won back-to-back provincial titles at MEI in 2005 and 2006, and was named a provincial all-star both seasons. After the 2006 championship, Marshall played on the Fraser Valley Volleyball Club U18 team that won the provincial championships, and was also a silver medalist with FVVC at the U18 National tournament, and was named a first team all-star at both tournaments. At TWU, Marshall will be reunited with setter Ben Ball (Abbotsford, B.C.) and left side Marc Howaston (Victoria). He and Ball were teammates at MEI, and the two also played together with Howatson for Team BC.

"I have wanted to play for Trinity ever since I started playing volleyball," Marshall says. "The way I have been taught to play is based on the way that Trinity plays so it just seems fitting that I should end up here. Trinity has always been a dream of mine and I am excited."

Offereins comes from Calgary Christian High School, where his team won the Alberta Provincial High School championship the past two seasons.

"Jarrod follows in a great tradition of ball control left side players from Alberta. He is a fantastic passer and defender and will factor in as a libero early in his career at TWU," Josephson says. "He is also a gifted attacker and will fill that role as well on the left side. Jarrod has a history of winning at both the club and high school level and we hope that that success continues at the University level."

The 6'3" Leftside/Libero's club team placed second the past two years at the Alberta Club Provincials and Club Nationals tournaments. In 2006 he was also a member of Team Alberta that won the U16 Elite West Championships where he was named MVP.

"Trinity has been a place I have wanted to attend since I began thinking of post-secondary education," says Offerein. "It seems like an excellent institution to continue my education and I am really excited to further my volleyball experiences with the Spartans."

Offereins also will be rejoining high school teammates at TWU, where he will again get to play with left side Paul Lindemulder (Calgary) and middle Rudy Verhoeff (Calgary).

Like his two fellow recruits, Jansen Van Doorn has had his share of success too. His Langley Christian high team finished second at the B.C. provincials this past season, where he was named a B.C. high school provincial all-star.

"Dan brings an imposing presence to TWU in the middle blocker position. He is a very big athlete who is just starting to tap into what he is capable of doing at the next level," Josephson says. "Competitiveness and desire are traits that we value in a Spartan and Dan embodies these things completely. He is a great teammate, a great player and will be a great Spartan. We are very excited to see the Langley boy stay home to play his five years."

Jansen Van Doorn also played for the Team BC U17 squad that finished second at the 2007 Western Canada Games.

"I'm excited to attend TWU in the fall because the atmosphere is awesome both on and off the court, and I've both seen and heard great things about the men's volleyball team," he says. "I can also get a good education and be surrounded by both friends and family."

Although he won't be rejoining any former teammates at TWU, the 6'8" middle will still see plenty of familiar faces around campus. His two older sisters, Dayna (fourth year middle) and Kara (second year outside hitter), are both members of the Spartans women's volleyball team, and his cousin Aaron Vandenbrink (Langley, B.C.) is in his third year for the men's volleyball team.

"All three guys are great competitors and even better people who will be great ambassadors of TWU," Josephson says of his three recruits. "We are looking forward to getting to work in the fall and incorporating these new Spartans into the fold."

Trinity Western University, in Langley, B.C. is an independent Christian liberal arts and sciences university enrolling approximately 4000 students. TWU offers undergraduate degrees in 40 major areas of study ranging from biotechnology, education, nursing, theatre and music, to psychology, communications and biblical studies. TWU's 16 graduate degree programs include counseling psychology, business, theology and leadership, and offers interdisciplinary studies in English, philosophy and history. TWU holds Canada Research Chairs in Biblical Studies, Biotechnology and Interpretation, Religion & Culture.

-TW-

 

Last Updated: 2008-03-07
Author: Scott Stewart