TWU HOSTS TWO BIG VOLLEYBALL MATCH-UPS-Women face UBC, Men take on Alberta

Volleyball (Canada West)
Weekend Preview
Tuesday, February 5, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWU HOSTS TWO BIG VOLLEYBALL MATCH-UPS
-Women face UBC, Men take on Alberta

LANGLEY, British Columbia- The Trinity Western University Spartans men's and women's volleyball teams will close out the regular season of Canada West action this weekend at the David E. Enarson Gym. This Friday and Saturday the Spartan women will take on the No.2 University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, with game time slated for 6 p.m., while the men will battle the nation's top ranked team, the University of Alberta Golden Bears at 8 p.m. Both games can be heard live on Spartan Web Radio (gospartans.ca), tune in 10 minutes before game time for the pre-game show.

The Thunderbirds (17-1) have won 14 matches in a row, including a sweep of No.3 Calgary at War Memorial Gym last weekend. The T-Birds are led offensively by Liz Cordonier (3rd year, Vancouver), who averages 3.34 kills per game, fourth in the Canada West. Jamie Broder (5th year, Victoria) and Jen Hinze (2nd year, Vancouver) contribute 2.69 and 2.16 kills per game respectively. The Thunderbirds average the most kills per game in the Canada West thanks in part to Setter Carla Bradstock (5th year, Richmond, B.C.), who averages 10.73 assists per contest. On defense, UBC relies on Marisa Field (4th year, Kelowna, B.C.), who is second in blocks with 1.26 per game, and Hinze, who registers fourth with 1.08 blocks per contest. Libero Claire Hanna (2nd year, Calgary) leads the squad with 2.86 digs per game.

The Spartan women (12-6) are No.7 in the country, and currently sit fifth in the Canada West. Last weekend the Spartans swept Simon Fraser University in both contests, setting up this weekend's match-up with their other lower mainland rival. TWU's balanced offensive attack is led by Middle Liz Spear (5th year, Cloverdale, B.C.), Outside Alicia Van Huizen (5th year, Surrey, B.C.), and Rightside Kim Klassen (3rd year, Abbotsford, B.C.), who average 2.52, 2.46 and 2.45 kills per game respectively. Saralyn Stel (5th year, Delia, Alta.) and Dayna Jansen Van Doorn (4th year, Langley, B.C.) contribute 2.29 and 2.02 kills per game as well. It is Jansen Van Doorn who anchors the Canada West's leading defense as well, leading the conference in blocks with 1.86 per game. She is helped at the net by Spear and Klassen, who each average 0.95 blocks. Keanne Tome (4th year, Delta, B.C.) has 2.64 digs per game in the absence of former Libero of the year Julie McLeod, to which Stel adds 2.49 per contest.

The Alberta Golden Bears (14-2) are the No.1 team in Canada and lead the countries premiere conference in kills, assists, service aces, and blocks. Leading the charge up front is Joel Schmuland (4th year, Calgary), who is third in the conference with 3.65 kills per game. After Schmuland the Bears feature three players with similar numbers; Tim Gourlay (4th year, Grande Prairie, Alta), Ben Saxton (2nd year, Balzac, Alta.), and Thomas Jarmoc (3rd year, Calgary) all average more than 2.5 kills per game. Adam Kaminski (5th year, Chatham, Ont.) and Justin Merta (2nd year, Quesnel, B.C.) lead the way defensively with 1.16 and 1.13 blocks per game respectively. Libero Kevin Hatch (5th year, Creston, B.C.) is fourth in the Canada West with 2.12 digs per contest.

The Spartan men (8-8) have clinched a playoff birth and find themselves ranked No.10 in the country after last weekend's split with UBC. They have another tall order in front of them this weekend, with the nation's top program visiting the David E. For the Spartans, Steve Rogalsky (5th year, Maple Ridge, B.C.) leads the way with 3.22 kills per game, while Marc Howatson (1st year, Victoria) averages just under two per game. TWU is the third-best blocking team in the Canada West, led by veteran Middle Doug Van Spronsen's (5th year, Dawson Creek, B.C.) 1.03 blocks per contest and Canada West Male Athlete of the Week Josh Doornenbal (2nd year, Edmonton), who averages just under one block per game. Rogalsky leads the conference in service aces with 32, while Doornenbal is eighth with 23 and Mikiah Schalk (2nd year, Red Deer, Alta.) is ninth with 21 total service aces.

Up next for the both Spartans teams are the Canada West playoffs. The women will be playing the University of Alberta, whether it is at home or in Edmonton will be determined by this weekend's matches. The men's match-ups is yet to be determined as there are five teams within two points of each other who are battling for the final four play-off spots.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2008-02-10
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca