SPARTANS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCES 2010 RECRUITING CLASS

Alicia Perrin and new Spartan teammates

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL (ANNOUNCEMENT)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2010
RECRUIT SIGNING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCES 2010 RECRUITING CLASS

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Tuesday afternoon the Trinity Western University Spartans women’s volleyball team and head coach Ryan Hofer announced their 2010-2011 recruiting class with the addition of five new Spartans. Joining TWU this fall will be leftside Carly Hamilton of Calgary, left side Royal Richardson of Rocky Mountain House, Alta., middle Alicia Perrin of Creston, B.C., outside Casie Gano of Sundre, Alta. and setter Lauren Moncks of Standard, Alta.

“As a coaching staff and team we are extremely excited about the addition of these five ladies to our program.  When selecting this year’s recruiting class we looked for players who have a high desire to succeed, posses a high athletic ability and love to work hard and learn,” commented TWU head coach Ryan Hofer. “Not only are they gifted athletes, as each brings great background in provincial team experience, but they are outstanding young adults who will add to the strength of this team and will be fantastic ambassadors throughout their careers.”

The newcomers could have the potential for immediate impact with the departure of leftsides Kim Klassen and Carmen Dyck and middle Ismay Schon.

Carly Hamilton, who resides in Calgary, has been an honour roll student each year as a high school student at William Aberhart high school. The 5’11” leftside has achieved numerous individual and team honours with her high school and club teams. While at William Aberhart her team won the Calgary City Championship in 2007 and 2009, were Provincial finalists in 2008 and 2009 earning the gold medal title in 2008.  During this time she was her high school MVP an all-star and Provincial team member in 2008.

“Carly is a fantastic player who has had a tremendous amount of success on and off the floor.  She is a dynamic player who can play the left side and right side equally well.  She possess the other intangibles that coaches are looking for; Strong leadership, great court presence, fiercely competitive, work ethic and a tremendous ability to help others play better around her,” commented Hofer. “She is known as the teammate who others want to play with and is the type of player that teams can be built around and we are excited to have her as a Spartan next year.”

Her Dinos volleyball club were provincial champions in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and were national champions in 2008 and national silver medalists in 2009.

“I want to attend TWU because I think it is an awesome school with great people and that they have a terrific volleyball program as well,” commented Hamilton on her choice to attend TWU.

Hamilton, who plans to study Business at TWU, has also participated in her high school musical production throughout her time at William Aberhart.

Royal Richardson, who resides in Rocky Mountain House, Alta., is a successful honours student who plans to study Kinesiology next year at TWU. The 6’2” Lindsay Thurder Comprehensive High School student, has earned multiple MVP honours and has helped lead her team to top six finishes each year at Provincials including going 47-8 in her grade 11 season.

“Royal is an exceptional athlete, and one of the most physical kids in the country.  She has a heavy arm, jumps well and has great front and back court ball control.  We love the fact that she is a well rounded athlete that has been very successful on many different sport fronts,” commented Hofer. “Royal has shown an incredible commitment to this sport especially with all the travelling she is doing this year for club.  We believe she is capable of something special and is going to make an impact on CIS volleyball.”

Richardson, who has played both rightside and leftside, has also been a standout with her Queens volleyball club helping her team to two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. This season she won a provincial silver medal while playing Elite 18 to go with her previous set of provincial gold, silver and bronze medals.

“The reason that I want to attend TWU is because I like the style the coaches use for coaching their team. I enjoy the girls on the team and the atmosphere at TWU is so positive and for the Christian base that is offered at Trinity,” Richardson commented on her choice to attend Trinity Western.

The successful multi-sport athlete has been a member of Alberta Baseball, where she has medaled four times and is a two time Alberta gold medal javelin champion in Track and Field.

Alicia Perrin, a native of Creston, B.C., has been an honours student at Prince Charles Secondary and one of the top academics in her class.

“Alicia has overcome the difficulties of growing up in a small town far removed from the volleyball centers of BC and come out as one of the best in her position.   Alicia is a fierce competitor who knows what it takes to win.  Alicia is physical presence and dominates the net game with a heavy arm and one of the biggest blocks in the country.  We are excited to bring her competitive personality along with her drive and motivation into this team and see where it will go and lead us.

The 6’2” middle, who plans to study Human Kinetics at TWU, has been a member of Team BC for the last three years, where she has earned numerous all-star and MVP awards.  This past summer she was a key member in helping British Columbia claim gold at the national Team Challenge Cup.

Perrin commented on her choice of TWU to continue her volleyball and academic career.” I choose TWU because it is much smaller than some of the other schools I was thinking of going to, and I really liked all the girls on the team and felt like I would fit in well here.”

Perrin, who also plays club ball with EKVC, is no stranger to high level volleyball having a brother that has played for the Canadian National Team and at Thompson Rivers University.  

Casie Gano is a native of Sundre , Alb  where she has been an honours student each year at Sundre High School and plans to study Sciences and Aviation when she enrolls at TWU this fall.

“Casie posses great all round skills; she has a strong shoulder and brings a tremendous amount of control to the floor.  She is big at the net and brings a great chemistry to the team.  What excites us the most about Casie is her athleticism and ability to make changes,” commented Hofer. “We have never been impressed more with a recruit and her ability to make changes to her game, we believe that Casie has a huge upside and is going to make a big impact.  We are excited to get her in our gym to begin the training process."

The 6’1” outside hitter, who was captain of her Sundre squad, helped lead her team to one of their best finishes last season while also being a standout player with her Dinos volleyball club team. She was a member of the Dinos team that placed top three in all AVA tournaments, first at Provincials and were silver medalists at the U17 national championships as well as gold medal winners this year.

Gano, who was awarded Sundre Student of the Year honours in 2007, commented on choosing TWU. “Trinity is a school I am excited to be a part of because of the endless opportunities it presents for me not only as a player but as a person. It offers something special, where I can grow to be a better person on a great team and work towards my goals everyday.”

A multi-sport athlete who has participated in basketball, golf, track & field and cross-country running, Gano has also been earned All-Star honours at the Alberta volleyball U16 and U17 provincial championships.

Lauren Moncks, who plans to study Business and Environmental Sciences at TWU has been a five year honours student at Standard School in Standard, Alta.

“Lauren combines great setting skills with her physicality.  Her size will be a tremendous asset when it comes to her net play.  Lauren also has a great ability to move quickly and get to the ball.  She has solid set location and runs a smart offence,” commented Hofer. “As a coaching staff we are excited to work with her over the next five years and see the impact she is going to make on our Spartan offence.”

The 6’2” setter has been a part of the Standard Rams team that has won seven consecutive 1A Alberta Provincial gold medals, of which Moncks has earned three.  Her talent has earned her a spot on the Alberta U15/U16 and U18 Provincial teams.

“TWU fit my ideal profile of a smaller, caring community, just like my hometown, where I could pursue my educational dream while developing my skills in a sport I love,” commented Moncks. “The atmosphere of my first experience with the team, the coach and the school itself felt right and thus my decision was made.”

Moncks has also played for the Dinos Volleyball Club where her U17 team earned a Provincial gold medal and a national silver medal. Being teammates with Hamilton and Gano she has also just added another provincial gold to her resume and with them has their eye on winning a gold medal at Nationals.

Trinity Western University, in Langley, B.C., is a provincially chartered, independent Christian liberal arts and sciences 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, counseling psychology, 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.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2010-04-29
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca