VIDEO: MEN'S VOLLEYBALL SEASON PREVIEW

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2010
SEASON PREVIEW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VIDEO: MEN'S VOLLEYBALL SEASON PREVIEW

LANGLEY, British Columbia - The defending CIS silver medalist Trinity Western men's volleyball team kicks off the season this weekend on the road at UBC before returning to Langley the following weekend for its home opener against Thompson Rivers. SpartansTV previews the 2010-11 campaign.

2010 CW Rank: NA
2010 CIS Rank: No. 3
2009-10 CW Record: 11-7
2009-10 CW Tournament: 1-1 (silver medal)
2009-10 CIS Tournament: 2-1 (silver medal)
Last CW Title: 2007
Last CIS Title: 2006

Key returnees: fourth year leftside Marc Howatson, fifth year middle Josh Doornenbal, fourth year middle Rudy Verhoeff, fourth year setter Ben Ball, third year libero Jarrod Offereins.  
Key additions: 6-4 leftside Nick Del Bianco (Surrey, B.C.), 6-6 middle/rightside Branden Schmidt (De Winton, Alta.), 6-2 setter Devyn Plett (Winnipeg) and 6-6 setter Micah Jansen Van Doorn (Langley, B.C.)
Key departures: Steven Marshall

The defending CIS silver medalist Trinity Western men’s volleyball team has already secured a return trip to this year’s nationals as host of the 2011 championship, but the Spartans will be looking to gain their invite based on their own merits.

Spartans head coach Ben Josephson began the process of moving one win further at the national championship by bringing in one of the best recruiting classes in TWU history. To get the rookies up to speed quickly the Spartans have gone on an extensive 10 day preseason road trip. As a result the group of impressive youth and experienced play-off hardened veterans has bonded well during the lengthy tour and look ready for the start of Canada West.

The Spartans finished the preseason with an impressive 10-4 record against CW, OUA and AUS competition. Their strong play has resulted in TWU being ranked No. 3 in the CIS as they head into Canada West play this weekend.

“We may only have two starters playing in their position from last year’s CIS silver medalist, but great teams are able to overcome the loss of players by recruiting well and having depth at every position,” said TWU head coach Ben Josephson. “From top to bottom we have a lot of talent, which includes one of the best recruiting classes that we have ever had. We have good volleyball players and they are universal in the positions that they are able to play, so from one game to the next we have a variety of options available to us. We hope to use this depth to stay fresh and healthy while gaining valuable experience for the younger players as we make the best use of the CIS host bye."

The Spartans will be led by veteran middle’s 6-7 fifth year Josh Doornenbal and 6-5 fourth year Rudy Verhoeff, who were fifth and sixth in hitting percentage in Canada West last season, dynamic 6-4 fourth year setter Ben Ball, who was second in Canada West in assists last season at 10.37 per game, 6-4 libero Jarrod Offereins, who was sixth in Canada West in digs per game at 2.29, and second year middle Lucas Van Berkel, who was impressive at this summer’s World Junior Championships after recovering from midseason surgery last year.

TWU will expect an immediate impact from rookies 6-4 leftside Nick Del Bianco (Surrey, B.C.), who has been impressive in preseason play, 6-6 rightside Branden Schmidt (De Winton, Alta.) and 6-5 first year redshirt outside Derek Thiessen (Coquitlam, B.C.).

The Spartans will be without 6-7 fourth year leftside Marc Howatson for the fall as he recovers from a serious ankle injury sustained during the teams preseason/late summer tour of Russia.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2010-10-28
Author: Mark Janzen