CANADA WINS FIRST MATCH AT WORLD JUNIOR MEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

VOLLEYBALL
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2011
WORLD JRS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CANADA WINS FIRST MATCH AT WORLD JUNIOR MEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
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Niterói, BRAZIL – Canada, with Trinity Western's Lucas Van Berkel (Edmonton, Alta.), Branden Schmidt (Winton, Alta.) and Brad Kufske (Abbotsford, B.C.) won its first match at the men’s world junior volleyball championships on Friday morning defeating Japan 25-12, 25-17, 25-14 to kick off the consolation playoff round.

The Canadians, 0-3 in round robin play this week, were led by Tristan Aubry of Edmonton with 14 points on nine attacks, four blocks and one service ace. Nicholas Hoag of Sherbrooke, Que., and Van Berkel of Edmonton added 11 points each.

“This game was a lot better for us,’’ said Canadian team captain TJ Sanders of London, Ont. ‘’We didn't know much about Japan. This was a big win for us. We hope to go on from here.”

Takashi Dekita, the tournament's leading scorer to this point, led Japan with a match-high 12 spikes along with two blocks and two aces.

Canada out-hit Japan 32-22 and also led in blocks, 16-4 and aces, 9-2. Japan struggled with its receptions.

“It was a great match for us,’’ said Canada’s head coach Georges Laplante. ‘’The blocks made the difference, but now we have to play better defense behind the block.’’

Canada, battling for ninth place, faces Egypt on Saturday and Tunisia on Sunday.

Canada’s men’s national junior volleyball team sorted by province:

Alberta: Tristan Aubry, Edmonton; Jay Olmstead, Edmonton; Lucas VanBerkel, Edmonton; Branden Schmidt, Winton; Jarron Mueller, Calgary.

B.C.:Alex Davis, White Rock; Bradley Kufske, Abbotsford; Derek Thiessen, Coquitlam (did not travel to World Junior Championship).

Manitoba: Brett Wiess, Winnipeg.

Ontario: Tyler (TJ) Sanders, London.

Quebec: Nicholas Hoag, Sherbrooke; Daniel Moreau, Sherbrooke; Tommy Bélisle, Quebec City.

Saskatchewan: Braden McLean, Birch Hills.

Head coach: Georges Laplante, Montreal

Assistant coaches: Greg Barthel, Regina and Brad Poplawski, Edmonton.

For more information: www.volleyball.ca and www.fivb.org

-Volleyball Canada-

About Spartan Athletics
Since Trinity Western entered the CIS in 1999, Spartan student-athletes have accumulated a number of significant awards including a CIS Athlete of the Year (BLG) award, four CIS Player of the Year awards, a CIS Elite Eight Academic All-Canadian award, three CIS Rookie of the Year awards, a CIS Libero of the Year award, three CIS community service awards and numerous CIS All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star awards. In twelve years as members of the CIS, the Spartans have won six national titles (women’s soccer in 2004, 2008, 2009 and men’s volleyball in 2006, 2011), 15 CIS championship medals, an individual CIS championship in track and seven Canada West championships.

About TWU
Trinity Western University, in Langley, BC, is a provincially chartered, independent Christian liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies university, enrolling approximately 4000 students. TWU offers 42 undergraduate majors, ranging from biotechnology, education, theatre and music, to psychology, communications and biblical studies. TWU's 16 graduate degree programs include nursing, counselling psychology, marriage and family therapy, business, theology, linguistics, and leadership, and interdisciplinary degrees in English, philosophy and history. TWU holds Canada Research Chairs in Dead Sea Scroll Studies, Developmental Genetics and Disease, and Interpretation, Religion & Culture.

About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of 14 schools, from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, the CWUAA produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. “cwuaa” on Twitter.

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-one universities, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2011-08-05
Author: Mark Janzen