FOUR SPARTANS INVITED TO CANADIAN JUNIOR NATIONAL CAMP

Men’s Volleyball (Announcement)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Four Spartans Invited to Canadian Junior National Camp

WINNIPEG - Four players from the Trinity Western University Spartans men’s volleyball team will be attending the 2008 Canada Junior Men’s Selection Camp to be held May 25-28 at the Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. Setter Ben Ball (Abbotsford, B.C.), outside hitters Marc Howatson (Victoria) and Steve Marshall (Abbotsford, B.C.), and middle Rudy Verhoeff (Calgary) will compete for a chance to represent Canada at the 2008 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship taking place June 28 – July 6 in San Salvador, El Salvador.

"Having three of our current athletes and one incoming athlete invited to try out for the honor of representing our country is very exciting for our program and our athletes,” said TWU head coach Ben Josephson. “The experience of playing for our national coaches in that training environment will be a very positive one for these athletes. Any time you have an opportunity to compete with the best and wear your country's flag on your shirt, you are in a special position. I'm so very excited for these young men and the summer that lies before them."

All four Spartans will be in their second year of eligibility this fall. Ball and Howatson, who were freshman starters last season for TWU, both have previous international experience as members of the Youth National Team. Last season Ball totaled 541 set assists (7.51 Assists per game) while starting 13 matches while Howatson was second on the Spartans in kills with 166 (1.98 K/G) and digs with 110 (1.31 D/G), and was fourth with 16 service aces.

Verhoeff, also a freshman last season, was the third middle for TWU, totaling 48 total blocks and 23 kills. Marshall, who will make his Spartan debut this fall, played last season for Douglas College, where he earned a BCCAA 2nd team All-star selection.

The purpose of the Junior National Team Program is to identify, select and train a group of young athletes who have future Senior National Team potential and offer them the opportunity to train and represent Canada in international competition at an earlier age. 12 players will be chosen from the selection camp to represent Canada at the NORCECA tournament in El Salvador at the end of June.

Athletes attending the 2008 Junior Men’s Selection Camp include:

LEFT SIDE/OPPOSITE:
Josh Lichty - St. Catherines, ON
Marc Howatson - Victoria, BC
Jason DeRocco - Winnipeg, MB
Gord Perrin - Creston, BC
Darryl Shank - Komoka, ON
Frederic Mondou - Longeuil, QC
Steve Marshall - Surrey, BC
Joren Zeeman - Cambridge, ON

MIDDLES:
Mike Amoroso - Toronto, ON
Graham Vigrass - Calgary, AB
Rudy Verhoeff - Calgary, AB
Stéfan Savoie - Winnipeg, MB
Taylor Verboom - Radium Hot Springs, BC

SETTERS:
Ciaran McGovern - Grand Prairie, AB
Ben Ball - Abbotsford, BC
Jay Blankeneau - Edmonton, AB

LIBEROS:
Ryan Munt - Winnipeg, MB
Pierre-Alexis Lapointe - La Malbaie, QC

Head Coach: Chris Green – Winnipeg, MB
Assistant Coaches: Paul Armbruster – Lethbridge, AB
Luke Harris – St. John’s, NL

-TW-

Last Updated: 2008-06-01
Author: Jeff Kilpatrick
Email: Jeffrey.Kilpatrick@twu.ca