SPARTANS COMPLETE RECRUITING CLASS WITH EXPERIENCE

CCAA All-Canadian Carmen Dyck (Creston, B.C.) - photo credit Sergei Belski

Women's Volleyball
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Recruiting Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS COMPLETE RECRUITING CLASS WITH EXPERIENCE

LANGLEY, British Columbia - Trinity Western University Spartans women's volleyball head coach Ryan Hofer finished off his excellent recruiting class with three transfers, and a Spartan who is returning after a season away. Left side Carmen Dyck (Creston, B.C.) is transferring from Mount Royal College in Calgary, setter Lauren O'Reilly (Langley, B.C.) returns home after one season at Michgan State University, libero Jodi Neufeld (Surrey, B.C.) comes from Abbotsford's Columbia Bible College, and outside hitter Danielle Foth (Abbotsford, B.C.) returns to the team after taking last season off.

"These four athletes complete our 2008/09 recruiting class," says Hofer. "They are additions to an already impressive group that will increase the depth of our team, create an intense training environment and rivalry for floor time. I am excited to include these women into the mix of an already talented group of Spartan athletes."

The 5'9" Dyck was a CCAA All-Canadian this past season as she helped the Cougars to a second place finish at Nationals, where she was also named a first team all-star. In her three seasons at Mt. Royal, she was twice named an ACAC all-conference team member in 2007 and 2008, as her team won the conference the past two seasons, and finished second in 2005.

"Carmen had a tremendous College career at Mt. Royal College in Calgary and we are looking forward to the impact she is going to have on Spartan Volleyball," Hofer says. "She is a talented player with excellent ball control and an explosive attack. Her variety of shots coupled with her back court and defensive skills makes her a valuable asset. Carmen is a fierce competitor and has proven she knows how to win. As a 4th year athlete, Carmen will bring maturity, leadership and experience that will help keep us at the top of the pack."

A graduate of Prince Charles Secondary in Creston, B.C., she helped her team to four straight East Kootney Championships from 2001-05. A recipient of the Andrea Erikson Memorial Scholarship at Mt Royal, she plans to study Sport and Leisure Management at TWU, where she'll have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

"I want to continue playing volleyball and have always wanted to play on a Christian University team," says Dyck. "TWU seems to offer everything I'm looking for in this next phase of life."

O'Reilly, a member of Canada's Junior National team in 2006, was one of the top high school players in the country two years ago coming out of Pacific Academy (Surrey, B.C.). After a successful freshman season at Michigan State in 2007, where she helped the Spartans to the Sweet Sixteen, she decided to come home to play for the TWU Spartans.

"It is not often that a team is able to add the type of depth in a single position that Lauren is going to bring to our setting team," says Hofer. "She has decided to return home after an outstanding year at Michigan State to be closer to her family and to continue her studies at TWU. She is joining an already strong pair of setters and is going to raise the level of practice and competition while she fulfills the CIS transfer requirements."

CIS rules require an athlete transferring from another university-level program (CIS or NCAA Division I-A) to sit out for 365 days from their last competition. O'Reilly will become eligible to play in December, but could possibly "red shirt" the entire season, giving her four full seasons of CIS eligibility starting in the Fall of 2009.

"Lauren is a talented setter with good control and smart decision making and is no stranger to winning," Hofer says of his 5'10½ setter. "We are excited to have her competitive spirit and work ethic with us."

O'Reilly won Canadian Club Nationals in 2007 and 2005 with the Fraser Valley Volleyball Club, winning the MVP of both tournaments, and also helped FVVC to three straight Club Provincials Gold medals from 2005-07. Her Pacific Academy Breakers high school team were runners-up at the BC Provincial tournament two seasons in a row (2005-06), and she was named the tournament MVP in 2006.

"I have always been drawn to the outstanding education and the leadership training Trinity Western has to offer," says Lauren, who will be an education major at TWU. "I am excited to be apart of a great volleyball program in the CIS."

The 5'2" Neufeld spent one season at CBC, where she helped them to a bronze medal at the Provincial Championships.

"Jodi is coming from a great year of college development at Columbia Bible College, where she was an impact player," says Hofer. "Jodi is no stranger to TWU Volleyball. She has played her club career with FVVC and has won two National Championships in the process. We are looking forward the ball control and level of intensity that she is going to bring to the team."

Neufeld had a successful high school career at Elgin Park Secondary in South Surrey, B.C. She was named a Fraser Valley all-star in 2007, and was a member of the B.C. U-18 Provincial team in 2006 and 2007. Her club team Blitz won club provincials and were runners-up at Nationals in 2006, and last year they were crowned both club National and Provincial champions for 2007.

"I chose to attend TWU because it's always been my dream to play there," says Neufeld, who will be the fourth Neufeld sister to enroll at TWU, following Amy, Heidi, and Natalie. "I've grown up watching them succeed and want to be apart of that success. I am extremely excited to join the Spartans next year."

Neufeld, who has four years of playing eligibility remaining, had a 3.2 GPA at CBC last year and plans to study Sport and Leisure Management at TWU.

The 6'0" Foth is very familiar with the Spartans team, having played already played three seasons at TWU from 2004-07.

"We are pleased to be able to put Danielle Foth back on the roster this year after a one year sabbatical," Hofer says of the MEI alum. "She has given three previous years of great volleyball to the Spartans, including being Canada West Rookie of the Year in her first year (2004-05). Danielle brings consistency and efficiency in all areas and brings a calm, confident presence on the floor."

Foth was also named to the CIS All-Rookie squad in 2004-05, and has averaged 2.27 kills and 2.15 digs per game so far in her Spartan career. The education major has two seasons of playing eligibility remaining.

Trinity Western University, in Langley, B.C. is an independent Christian liberal arts and sciences university enrolling approximately 4000 students. TWU offers undergraduate degrees in 40 major areas of study ranging from biotechnology, education, nursing, theatre and music, to psychology, communications and biblical studies. TWU's 16 graduate degree programs include counseling psychology, business, theology and leadership, and offers interdisciplinary studies in English, philosophy and history. TWU holds Canada Research Chairs in Biblical Studies, Biotechnology and Interpretation, Religion & Culture.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2008-06-11
Author: Jeff Kilpatrick
Email: jeffrey.kilpatrick@twu.ca