Archive photo courtesy Uwe Welz: Joel Schmuland and the Alberta Golden Bears will try to repeat as CIS men's volleyball champions, this time as the host of the national event

Canada West Overview
As winners of the last 14 CIS championships, Canada West continues to dominate men’s volleyball, as evidenced by the initial national poll, which finds six schools ranked in the CIS Top 10.

The Alberta Golden Bears and head coach Terry Danyluk are perennial contenders for the national title, and last year they won gold for the third time in seven years. Back to lead in 2008-09 are All-Star Joel Schmuland, fellow senior Tim Gourlay and fourth-year Thomas Jarmoc, who is likely to see increased playing time. As host of Nationals, Alberta will be there and has every chance to repeat as champions.

Gone from the UBC Thunderbirds are All-Canadian Matt LeBourdais and former All-Star Andrew Bonner, but All-Star Jared Krause, CIS Libero of the Year Blair Bann and CIS All-Rookie team emember Joe Cordonier form a nucleus that should see the T-Birds continue to press Alberta at the top of the standings.

The Thompson Rivers WolfPack served notice in last year’s playoffs that they intend to break up the party of perennial top teams in Canada West With only a 9-9 record, they surged to third in the conference playoffs, qualified for Nationals and again finished third on the CIS stage. All-Star Robin Schoebel, Canada West Rookie of the Year Gord Perrin and veterans Martin Korsbak and Behluhl Yavasgel create a formidable lineup that has every reason to believe it can improve on the regular season and again qualify for Nationals.

All-Canadian Paul Sanderson, All-Star Joel Small, Andrew Koroll and fellow veteran Patrick Thompson are all back for a Brandon Bobcats team that improved by six wins a year ago and has every intention of continuing the rapid ascent. The Bobcats aim to not only get past the first round of playoffs, but make it to the big event in Edmonton. CIS Player of the Year Ben Schellenberg and fellow All-Canadian Dustin Addison-Schneider have moved on from the Winnipeg Wesmen, 2008 CIS silver medalists. Alan Ahow, Andrew Town and a group of less experienced student-athletes will try to uphold recent winning tradition, but a repeat of last year simply seems like a test too tough without the superstar calibre of a season ago.

Returning All-Star Omar Langford, CIS All-Rookie setter Ciaran McGovern, middle Oleg Podporin and others are back for a Calgary Dinos team that was impressive at 8-10 last, despite a very youthful squad. But Canada West is a very tough conference and grabbing a spot at Nationals would be a very tough task. With All-Star Steve Rogalsky graduated from the program, the Trinity Western Spartans turn to youth in the form of Rudy Verhoeff and Marc Howatson, but may need a year or two before they can match the level of performance from their CIS title year of 2006.

The comeback of All-Star Drew Venables from a diagnosis of Stage II ‘A’ Hodgkin’s lymphoma is an inspirational story, but the Manitoba Bisons are a very young team with a new coach and have, at best, a chance to grab a playoff spot if they stay healthy and play well. Fourth-year setter Cole Hintz and fourth-year libero/left side Daniel Quintal are the leaders on a rebuilding Saskatchewan Huskies roster that seems unlikely to do more than battle hard and try to grab a playoff spot by season’s end.

The Regina Cougars look to improve on a 1-17 record, with veterans such as Ryan DeCosse, Christopher Knoop and middle Blake Wheler, but it’s a long way up before they can compete with the top schools in the nation’s best conference.

Alberta Golden Bears
2007-08 conference record: 16-2, 1st
2008 CW playoffs: 2-0, 1st
2008 CIS tournament: 3-0, 1st
Last CW title: 2007-08
Last CIS title: 2007-08

The Alberta Golden Bears enter the season again as national champions and have the unique opportunity of defending their title on their home floor as they will host Nationals in Edmonton at the end of February. Though their berth at Nationals is guaranteed, this season will be treated like any other for Terry Danyluk’s squad as they prepare to defend their title.

Veteran leadership has not recently been a challenge on the U of A campus and it appears it won’t be again this season. Eight returning veterans from last year’s team will anchor Danyluk’s lineup. The group is led by team captains Joel Schmuland (5th year, Calgary), Tim Gourlay (5th, Grande Prairie, AB) and Mike DeRocco (4th, Winnipeg). Schmuland, who led the Golden Bears in kills in 16 of 18 matches last season, is Alberta’s top power threat. Thomas Jarmoc (4th, Calgary), Simon Lidster (3rd, Calgary) and Ben Saxton (3rd, Balzac, AB) are among the remaining returnees expected to make an impact for the Golden Bears. The versatile Jarmoc will play both the left side and power for Danyluk while Lidster will play middle blocker.

Not only are the Golden Bears loaded with championship experienced veterans, they are welcoming recruits with similar credentials. Junior National team power hitter Jason DeRocco joins the Golden Bears, and his brother, Mike, from the 2008 Canadian College champion Mount Royal Cougars. Spencer Leiske, Tanner Nault and James Sangster are also former college national champions, having won with the 2007 Red Deer College Kings. The lone Edmonton addition to this year’s roster is Alberta Provincial team veteran Tristan Aubry, who will play middle blocker for the Golden Bears.

Canada West teams finished one, two, three at Nationals last year, with the Golden Bears, Winnipeg Wesmen and Thompson Rivers WolfPack walking away with those respective medals. This has been the case in recent memory as Canada West teams perennially dominate CIS volleyball.

With this level of competition, and despite being hosts to the 2009 CIS men’s volleyball championship, coach Danyluk approaches every season the same. “Give ourselves a chance to be the best team we can be and let your play speak for itself. We need to train hard and play hard whenever we get the chance and take each game we play one step at a time.” This view combined with the Golden Bears championship experience could result in yet another trip to the national final, this time on their home floor.

Brandon Bobcats
2007-08 conference record: 10-8,4th
2008 playoffs: 0-2, lost quarter-final
Last CW title: none
Last CIS title: none

Brandon has high expectations heading into the season, the fourth year of existence for the program, translating into an experienced group of athletes intent on improving last season’s 10-8 record.

Head coach Russ Paddock is pleased with this year’s roster. “We want to build on the success we had last year, so we're anxious to get going.”

The majority of the team is returning with setter Andrew Korol, middle Joel Small and middle Patrick Thompson having been with the program since its inception in 2005. Korol led the conference in assists last season, while Small led in blocks and was named a Second Team Canada West All-Star for his efforts. Small also spent some time with the National team this summer and is expected to use that experience to bolster the Bobcats.

Paul Sanderson, who earned a Canada West First Team selection and CIS Second Team honours for his league-leading kills per set average, is anxious to improve on last year’s results. “We did pretty well last year. We’ve kept most of the same roster, and with the addition of a few new guys, that should hopefully make us even better,” he notes. “We’ve seen some good things out of the young guys, I like what I see.”

Despite the departure of starters Cam Blewett and Al Hart, the squad is relatively unchanged. Third-year libero Paul Robidoux of Winnipeg will slide into the void left by Blewett, while Hart’s absence will be filled by six-foot-seven right-side Maverick Hatch, who transferred to BU from Malaspina College in April.

“I’m trying to get into the swing of things as fast as I can,” says Hatch, “For the rookies and myself, the biggest challenge is becoming accustomed to the systems. It's a lot faster than college, so that will be the biggest challenge to overcome.”

“Hatch is an experienced player coming in,” says Paddock. “His size on the right-side is something we haven't had before, so that’'s going to help us out a lot in terms of our blocking structure. He brings a new dimension to our offence as well.”

A number of local players round out the recruiting class of 2008-09, including Riley Phillips who returns to the Bobcats after spending two seasons with SAIT in the ACAC. He will provide depth at both left and right side. The additional depth and experience has the team confident heading into the highly competitive Canada West conference.

UBC Thunderbirds
2007-08 conference record: 13-5, 3rd
CW playoffs: 3-1, 2nd
CIS tournament: 2-1, 5th
Last CW title: 1984
Last CIS title: 1983

Having established themselves as one of the top squads in the CIS, earning a pair of top-five finishes at the CIS championship the last two years, the Thunderbirds are now without stars Andrew Bonner and Matt LeBourdais. A strong recruiting class and a number of talented returning veterans, however, leaves UBC head coach Richard Schick with many options across the board.

Outside hitter Steve Gotch was fifth in the Canada West last year with 3.54 kills per set and is expected to be a major player for the T-Birds this season as he use his final year of eligibility. Fellow graduating senior Jared Krause showed last season that he is one of the top setters in all of the CIS, as he averaged more than 10 set assists per game and lead all setters in categories such as kills and blocks. At 6-foot-8, Krause has a great set of hands but his offensive prowess may also see him spend time as outside hitter this season in trying to fill the gap lead by longtime captain and CW all-star Bonner. Outside hitter Robert Bennett enters his second year with UBC and will have the chance to contribute offensively as he develops his explosive outside hitting.

Blair Bann is another key face for the T-Birds and was last season’s CIS Libero of the Year in just his second season at UBC as he led all liberos in the Canada West with 168 digs. His rookie season was also stellar, as he earned CIS All-Rookie honours back in 2006-07.

At the middle position, the T-Birds have three second-years and a third-year, all with loads of talent. Kyle Duperron, a 2005-06 CIS All-Rookie team member, returns to the squad this season after a year on the sideline and has looked extremely dangerous offensively in the preseason. Sophomores Joe Cordonier and Cary Brett both saw significant court time as rookies last season and alongside Yari Kozel will be charged with helping fill the void left by the departure of CW First Team All-Star LeBourdais.

Top recruits on this year’s squad include setter Rex Fenton, a high school star from Ottawa and competitor at the U19 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, who will be called upon to set if Krause hits. Outside Nathan Schuck from Oak Bay is a former Team BC member and will be in the offensive rotation right from the get go in this his rookie season.

Calgary Dinos
2007-08 conference record: 8-10, 6th
2008 CW playoffs: 0-2, lost quarter-final
Last CW title: 1993-94
Last CIS title: 1992-93

Rod Durrant’s rebuilding program with Calgary took a giant step forward in 2007-08 with the team’s return to the playoffs following a four-year absence and a respectable 8-10 record. But for a couple of bounces and a blown lead, the Dinos came ever-so-close to hosting a playoff series.

The chance to be part of a team on the rise is attractive to athletes, and Durrant has reaped the recruiting benefits thereof. Setter Ciaran McGovern and middle Graham Vigrass both had outstanding freshmen seasons last year, with McGovern earning a spot on the CIS All-Rookie team. Both spent the summer with the National Junior team, which won silver at the NORCECA championships in El Salvador, and both will return with that experience pushing them to higher levels of play in 2008-09.

Seven players on the roster are in their fourth year this season, led by left side and captain Andrew Tallas, a former national champion in the college ranks with Red Deer. Oleg Podporin is back and will be a force in the middle, complementing Vigrass’ play, while returning conference All-Star Omar Langford will continue to jump out of the gym on the right side.

Durrant added significant experience in the off-season to complement his returnees, and the Dinos should be better for it. “I feel we have improved substantially,” he said. “We have more depth throughout the lineup; we filled in holes.”

Though seven new faces will suit up for the Dinos this season, there will be just one player in his first year of eligibility.

That player would be Chris Hoag, a CCAA All-Canadian and MVP of the Quebec college league last season. Because he attended Cégep in Quebec, he was not charged with CIS eligibility and therefore joins the Dinos as a first-year player. Hoag is the son of Canadian National team head coach Glenn Hoag and had the choice to go virtually anywhere in the country, settling on Calgary.

“Chris joins us with tremendous volleyball experience,” said Durrant. “He is a 6’4” left side player who is very dynamic and has fantastic volleyball sense. We think Chris is a great fit for our program and system and we are truly excited to have him in a Dinos uniform.”

Hoag is joined by fellow college All-Canadian Allen Meek of the national champion Mount Royal Cougars. Meek was the ACAC Player of the Year last season and earned championship MVP honours when the Cougars won their collegiate title in Toronto. Meek will join Langford on the right side.

Joining Meek in the transfer up Crowchild Trail are middle Pat Lenaour and setter-turned-libero Tom Porta, while Aaron Cyr (Medicine Hat), Blake Giles (College of the Rockies) and Curtis James (Grant MacEwan) round out the recruiting class.

The Dinos have shown well in non-conference play, posting an 8-3 record with losses coming to Brandon, defending national champion Alberta, and NCAA powerhouse UCLA. A three-game sweep of Thompson Rivers, the CIS bronze medalist last season, in the B.C. interior late last month, set up an impressive pre-season for a much-improved Calgary team.

Manitoba Bisons
2007-08 conference record: 7-11, 8th (missed playoffs)
Last CW title: 2002-03
Last CIS title: 2002-03

Manitoba begins the season with more changes on and off the court. The Bisons see the return of head coach Garth Pischke after a six-month leave. Pischke posses a resume which includes leading Manitoba to the CIS national championships 25 times while collecting nine CIS gold medals, nine CIS silver medals, three CIS bronze medals, three fourth-place finishes and their lowest showing being a fifth.

As Pischke returns there are five new players to the 14 players lineup. Four of the rookies will make an immediate impact as either starters or depth off the bench. A unique aspect to one of the recruits is that Pischke will be coaching his son Dane at the CIS level for the first time. Pischke feels this is the ‘icing on the cake’ for his Bison coaching career and stated he is refreshed and ready to tackle the new season with the young squad.

While Pischke describe this year’s roster as one of the youngest at Manitoba for a while (second year of a rebuilding cycle), the recruits will complement a veteran group that came up just short of conference playoff spot last season.

Chris Voth, 18, played for the St. Paul’s Crusaders the last four seasons. The 6’5” left side player was voted the number one Manitoba High School volleyball player for 2007 and led the Crusaders as captain to the provincial championship for the last two consecutive seasons while earning MVP for both championships. Dane Pischke, 18, played for the Fort Richmond Centurions. The 6’6” right side hitter was voted the number seven Manitoba High School volleyball player for 2007 and recipient of the Dennis Nord Award - Manitoba Volleyball Association’s (MVA’s) graduating High School volleyball Player of the Year. Steve Goertzen, 18, played for the Garden Valley Collegiate in Winkler, MB. The 6’7” middle hitter was a member of the High School graduating all-star team and starter on gold medal Team Manitoba at the 2007 Western Canada Summer Games. Derek Nieroda, 19, played at St. Paul’s High School and part of provincial championship teams for the last two consecutive seasons with the Crusaders and starter on gold medal Team Manitoba at the 2007 Western Canada Summer Games. All four players also had winning experience on several Bison club teams over the past seasons.

Along with the rookies, the story of setter Drew Venables’ comeback from being diagnosed with Stage II ‘A’ Hodgkin’s lymphoma has inspired and lifted the team. He will be the captain again in his fifth season. Venables is healthy and ready to follow-up his last season campaign where he was eighth with 8.90 assists per set and selected as a 2007-08 Canada West Second Team All-Star despite not being able to complete the season.

Other veterans include assistant captain and middle blocker Derek Tyler, in his fifth season, was sixth in Canada West last season with 1.03 blocks per game; fourth-year right side/left side John Galloway, who led the team with 217 kills last season, and third-year left side Stefan Bouw was second with 161 kills last season.

The team is looking to rebound from not qualifying for the playoffs last season. Pischke is confident heading into the new season. He has seen competitive practices because of the additional depth and winning attitudes from the rookies coupled with the added desire of the veterans to avoid last season results.

Pischke commented on the upcoming season, “We definitely want to make the playoffs as our initial goal. It is difficult to know where we will be in the Canada West mix, as we have not seen most of the other teams. Our team is young and will have some inconsistency to start but will be better as the year progresses with our tremendous amount of talent both from the veterans and rookies.”

Regina Cougars
2007-08 conference record: 1-17, 10th (missed playoffs)
Last CW title: none
Last CIS title: none

Guided by second-year head coach Greg Barthel, the Cougars have four players in their fourth or fifth years of eligibility and hope to improve on last season’s 1-17 record.

The Cougars are led by fifth-year setter and team captain Ryan DeCosse (Brandon, Man./Neelin HS), who has been the team’s primary setter since the 2005-06 season. With 1913 assists in his career, DeCosse will hit 2000 early in the season and should threaten the 2500 mark by the end of the season, barring injury.

Besides DeCosse, the Cougars have outside hitter/libero Christopher Knoop (Melfort, Sask./Melford and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate) and middle blocker Blake Wheler (Lashburn, Sask./Lashburn HS) in their final season of eligibility. Knoop needs just 46 digs to become the U of R’s all-time career leader in the category, a record currently held by assistant coach Anthony DiPaola. Wheler had 81 kills and 35 total blocks last year for the Cougars.

Fourth-year outside hitter Mathew Brooks (Whitby, Ont./Anderson Collegiate) was named the team’s co-MVP last season along with Wheler after leading the team in kills for the second consecutive season. Brooks had 216 kills and finished seventh in the conference with an average of 3.43 kills per game, and also tied for second on the team in both digs (77) and total blocks (29).

Outside hitter Kevin Frey (Prince Albert, Sask./Carlton Comprehensive HS) is one of the team’s two returning third-year players from last season. Frey started 12 matches and had 96 kills and 49 digs last season for the Cougars. Also in his third season is libero Lindsey Isaak (Regina/Archbishop M.C. O’Neill HS), who had 15 digs in 47 sets last year.

Two players return to the team this year after missing at least one season. Third-year middle blocker Tyson Volk (Denzil, Sask./Denzil Sacred Heart) didn’t play last year, but recorded 82 kills and a blistering .493 hitting percentage during the 2006-07 campaign. Second-year left side Drew Smith (Barrie, Ont./Bear Creek Secondary) last played in 2005-06 and returns after completing a two-year church mission in England.

Also in their second year are outside hitters Jamie Wilkins (Regina/Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS) and Brody Waddell (Regina/Martin Collegiate).

Barthel’s recruiting crop this season includes outside hitters James Belle (Regina/Campbell Collegiate) and Colin Finch (Regina/Campbell Collegiate), setter Brodie Flis (Regina/Winston Knoll Collegiate), and libero Conrad Smith (Lumsden, Sask./Lumsden HS).

Saskatchewan Huskies
2007-08 conference record: 4-14, 9th
Last CW title: 2003-04
Last CIS title: 2003-04

With an interim coach at the helm, the Huskies enter another year of rebuilding.

Entering 2007-08 the Huskies knew it wasn’t going to be an easy road. The team had an average age of 18 and sported three rookies in the starting lineup. The team started on a five-match losing streak before nabbing a win of confidence. They ended 2007-08 winning three straight.

The team will have much of the same make-up from last season and includes new head coach Adam Ewart. Ewart, filling in for 16-year head coach Brian Gavlas, who is on leave for the 2008-09 season.

Ewart has coached seven Saskatchewan provincial championship club teams and in 2004 he won a national championship with his Juvenile men’s provincial team. The transition will be easy for the players. Ewart has not only been an assistant coach with the Huskies for the last seven years, but also coaches the Junior Huskies and has been named the coach for the 2009 Canada Games Saskatchewan team. He is currently also the coach of the under-19 men’s Provincial team.

“I am incredibly excited to be working with a great group of guys as the Huskies continue the rebuilding process,” said Ewart. “The standard of excellence that has been established over the years by coach Gavlas and the alumni is something that I am very familiar with. In the short time that I am head coach, the team will continue to strive toward a level of improvement that will once again see us as one of the top university men’s volleyball programs in the country.”

With the majority of the team in their second and third years, the Huskies will rely on fourth-year setter Cole Hintz and fourth-year libero/left side Daniel Quintal. Hintz played in all 18 matches and recorded 578 assists. Quintal was the strong leader of the team tallying 122 kills, seven service aces, 103 digs and nine blocks.

Returning left side Jarret Christenson looks to lead the Huskies in the attack department. He finished first on the team with 224 kills, averaging 3.34 per game. He also had 76 digs and 19 blocks.

The Huskies suffered a major setback in a preseason tournament, losing second-year middle blocker Ben Bourgeois to a season-ending injury. The six-foot-six Saskatoon native had 68 kills and 48 blocks in his rookie season. Libero Matthew Skotheim, who recorded 83 digs, has chosen to red-shirt with the team.

Setter Adam McTavish returns to the team after sitting out three seasons from Canada West volleyball. In 2004-05, he played in all games recording 358 assists.

Thompson Rivers WolfPack
2007-08: conference record: 9-9, 5th
2008 CW playoffs: 3-1, 3rd
07-08 CIS tournament: 2-1, 3rd
Last CW title: none
Last CIS title: none

If there’s one team to watch among all the WolfPack club’s this year, it could very well be the Mens Volleyball Team. After all, they have the most pressure on their shoulders. After winning a bronze medal at both the Canada West Final Four and the CIS Nationals, Pat Hennelly’s crew will be under the microscope from day one.

Steadily improving in their first three years in the CIS, the ’Pack will be one of the forces to be reckoned with in Canada West this year. Only three players from last year’s squad have graduated - libero Graham Allard (Prince George B.C.), setter Tim Flannigan (Prince George) and Middle Tony Zylstra (Stony Plain, AB). Flannigan and Zylstra will spend part of this season finishing their degrees and acting as Assistant Coaches with the WolfPack. Outside Hitter Brent Hall (4th year, Red Deer, AB) has left for Camosun College to pursue other educational interests.

When it comes to recruiting, Hennelly had little trouble filling his holes as 6’11’’ Taylor Verboom (1st, Radium Hot Springs, B.C.) is expected to see time at middle. Kyle Donen (3rd, White Rock B.C.) is expected to step into the regular Libero spot. He’ll be pushed by first year Spencer Reed (Prince George). Donen got some extra instruction this summer, spending five weeks working with a university team in Korea. He is the third member of the WolfPack to take advantage of an agreement Hennelly has with a coach in that country. Donen and Josh Boruck (2nd, Revelstoke B.C.) were named to Canada’s Maccabi games team this summer. They will play in Israel in 2009. Boruck is expected to vie for some time at outside hitter.

In early August, the WolfPack acquired the services of 6’8’’ middle Conor Eatch (Aurora, Ont). Eatch played club and U-21 ball in southern Ontario last season, but the year previous he was a teammate of Perrin and Savoie with the National Youth team.

A vacancy at setter will be taken by Martin Stenderup. The second-year Dane has international experience. He sat out last year to fulfill eligibility requirements.

Other newcomers on the team this year are: Collin Gordon, a transfer from SAIT of the Alberta College League, and the return of Robin Anders. Anders is a local product who spent some time playing with the University of Alberta. He is no stranger to the TRU environment and was a member of the UCC Sun Demons that won a bronze medal in the CCAA four years ago.

Robin Schoebel (3rd, Monaco), Martin Korsbak (3rd, Nyborg Denmark) and Behluhl Yavasgel (4th, Adin, Turkey) are the other internationals on the WolfPack roster. All are expected to take leadership roles. As will Gord Perrin. Perrin, named the top blocker as the NORCECA Junior qualifying tournament in El Salvador as a member of Canada’s Junior National team will be a ‘marked man’ by the opposition. Last season’s Canada West Rookie of the Year and CIS All-Rookie team member will most certainly garner a lot of attention.

Trinity Western Spartans
2007-08 conference record: 8-10, 7th
2008 CW playoffs: 0-2, lost quarter-final
Last CW title: 2006-07
Last CIS title: 2005-06

Last season Trinity Western was eliminated by Winnipeg, the eventual CIS silver medalist, in the Canada West quarter-finals. The loss marked the first time in five years that the Spartans did not make an appearance at the CIS championship, where they had medaled every time, including a national title in 2006.

This season the Spartans are looking to once again make it to the CIS championship, but they will be doing it with a completely different squad then the one that had earned four championship medals. This year’s team is a young, but extremely talented group that will go as far as its ability to learn from its experience picked up competing day in, day out against the rest of Canada West.

This year’s team will have to figure out who its “go-to” attacker will be as it will be playing with out All-Canadian Steve Rogalsky for the first time in five years. The Spartans, which average 2.4 years of CIS experience, will look to 6’5” middle Rudy Verhoeff (2nd year, Calgary) and 6’7” left side Marc Howatson (2nd, Victoria), who helped lead Canada this past summer to the NORCECA championship to fill the offensive and back-line void left by Rogalsky. Verhoeff was the captain and a starter, while Howatson played an important role off the bench.

In addition to the NORCECA teammates, the Spartans return attackers 6’5” left side Mikiah Schalk (3rd, Red Deer, AB), 6’7” middle Josh Doornenbal (3rd, Edmonton), 6’3” left side Paul Lindemulder (2nd, Calgary) and 6’5” right side Aaron VandenBrink (2nd, Langley, B.C.).

Quarterbacking the Spartans attack are returning setters 6’6” Chaim Schalk (5th, Red Deer) and 6’4” Ben Ball (2nd, Abbotsford, B.C.), while the defensive duties will be handled by returning liberos - 5’11” Andrew Hawkes (4th, Grande Prairie, AB) and 6’0” Grant Lindemulder (2nd, Calgary).

New to the team this year are Steven Marshall (2nd, left side, Abbotsford, B.C.), Jarrod Offereins (1st, left side, Calgary), Daniel Jansen Van Doorn (1st, middle, Langley) and John Wiebe (1st, libero, Abbotsford, B.C.). Marshall, who was a standout at Douglas College last year, where he was named a BCCAA All-Star, will be reunited with setter and left side Howaston. He and Ball were teammates at MEI, while the two also played together with Howatson for Team B.C. Offereins comes from Calgary Christian High School, where his team won the Alberta provincial high school championship the past two seasons. Offereins also will be rejoining high school teammates at TWU, where he will again get to play with left side Paul Lindemulder and middle Verhoeff. Like his two fellow recruits, Jansen Van Doorn has had his share of success. His Langley Christian high team finished second at the B.C. provincials this past season, where he was named a B.C. high school provincial all-star.

The Spartans, 3-8 in preseason, have been working on establishing team chemistry while matching themselves against some of the top competition in North America. They will look to rely on their unity as they strive for a return trip to the Canada West final four and a spot at the CIS championship.

Winnipeg Wesmen
2007-08 conference record: 14-4, 2nd
2008 CW playoffs: 2-2, 4th
2008 CIS tournament: 2-1, 2nd
Last CW title: none
Last CIS title: 2006-07

The Winnipeg Wesmen will have a different look than in years past.

After last year’s silver-medal-winning performance at the CIS championship in Laval, the team said farewell to a pair of fifth-year players who were a huge part of the program as Ben Schellenberg and Dustin Addison-Schneider completed their university careers. Coach Larry McKay is looking forward to what his team will look like this coming season and not what his team had lost prior to the season.

The team this year will be led by fifth-year outside Alan Ahow, fourth-year Andrew Town, third-year middle Justin Duff, and Paul Kjos, also entering his final season with the Wesmen.

Ahow came into his own last season placing in the top 15 in Canada West in several categories, including kills (11th), points (12th), digs (14th) and points per set (14th). Town was equally impressive finishing in the top 20 in kills (14th), kills per set (17th), points (17th) and points per set (20th). Duff will be looked upon to provide even more this season after finishing third on the team in kills (121) and second in total blocks (58). Kjos earned a starting position on the team midway through last season and improved in each and every match.

At setter the team has the luxury of three players who are all capable of playing the position. Dan Lother, in his third season, and Emory Wells, in his second, have experience under their belt. First-year Morgan Cheyne will lend added depth to the position. Michael Mallin, Adam Erickson, Marc Ross and Rory Scott, all entering their second seasons, each saw limited playing time last season and will be looked upon to take advantage of increased court time.

Maurice Williams joins the team after a successful high school and club team career. Williams, a great jumper, will be a valuable asset in the middle for coach McKay. McKay was busy on the recruiting end, bringing in six players to the program. Brett Lowe and Matt Dueck, talents in high school at both basketball and volleyball, will look to make an impression in their first seasons. Danny Andres, at 6’7’’, will add height to the middle position. Libero Chad Rempel joins the team after a successful career at both the high school and club levels. John Swanepoel was named the MHSAA male Athlete of the Year and should make an impact in his first season.

McKay, entering his 20th season with the program, is optimistic. “Our team will be a an even mix of youth and experience. Ahow, Kjos, Town, Mallin and Lother are all veterans of the last two seasons. The remaining 13 players are newcomers or have only one season of experience. The team will be competitive with all teams in Canada West. Being in the Canada West conference means there are always very strong teams to play against. Our team should be competitive”, said McKay.