SCHALK AND MARSHALL SELECTED TO TEAM CANADA

Chaim Schalk

Men's Volleyball (Team Canada)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SCHALK AND MARSHALL SELECTED TO TEAM CANADA

LANGLEY, British Columbia - Trinity Western University men's volleyball team setter Chaim Schalk (6'6", 5th year, Red Deer, Alta.) and leftside hitter Steven Marshall (6'3", 2nd year red-shirt, Abbotsford, B.C.) have been selected to Canada's National Beach Volleyball Team.

"Having Chaim and Steve selected to the Canada Beach Team is a great reflection on the skill and dedication to hard work these two young men have," commented TWU head coach Ben Josephson. "I am so proud of them and that they were able to showcase their abilities enough for the National Team coaches to be selected, though I am not overly surprised as I get to see them play on a daily basis. I'm just excited that others were able to see what our team sees all the time from these two."

The two Spartans will start training in Toronto in June and are expected to be with the team for two to three months. While with the national team they will be playing in a number of OVA tour tournaments in Ontario, various other tournaments throughout Canada and potentially in a couple of FIVB satellite tournaments.

"Having been selected to team Canada's beach volleyball national team is a dream come true. God has blessed me with this opportunity. I'm thankful for my experience in the volleyball program of Trinity Western University, which has helped me to mature on and off the court," commented Chaim Schalk.

Josephson commented on Chaim Schalk's ability and potential with the national team. "Chaim possess a great package of skill and athleticism. For a setter he is a very gifted attacker and his size allows him to be very effective at the net. He is also blossoming into a fantastic defender. Beach volleyball is a very skilled sport which plays right into Chaim's strengths."

"Being selected to this team is awesome," said Marshall. "I'm so excited I can't wait to start training."

Josephson had this to say on Steve Marshall, who is currently a red shirting with the Spartans. "Steve is the most gifted physical athlete I've ever coached. He is the smallest non Libero player on our roster and has the highest spike touch. He is fast, coordinated and explosive. This athleticism on the beach makes him very dangerous and potentially a great performer down the road. Being a young volleyball player Steve still has a lot of growth room when it comes to skills so his opportunity to train with the National Beach team is a great opportunity for him to develop that part of his game."

The Spartans are currently on their Christmas break and will return to Canada West conference action on Jan. 9-10 when they will host the University of Manitoba Bisons. TWU at 5-3 is currently tied for fourth in Canada West and are ranked ninth in the CIS top ten national rankings.

-TW-

 

Last Updated: 2008-12-23
Author: Scott Stewart