 |  |
2011 Canada West men's volleyball preview
EDMONTON – The 2011-12 Canada West volleyball campaign begins on Friday night.
With the top three teams for 2011 CIS Nationals and many returning star players, here is a look at what is sure to be another exciting men’s volleyball season.
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS
2010-11 conference record: 17-1 (1st)
2011 playoffs: 2-3
Last CW title: 2010
Last CIS title: 2009
CIS ranking: #2
CW ranking: #3
Key additions: Kevin Proudfoot (OH), David Ponich (LS), Craig Schatz (M/RS), Taylor Hunt (LS)
Key returnees: Tristan Aubry (M), Erik Mattson (L), Jay Olmstead (P), Jarron Mueller (S), Mitch Irvine (RS)
Key departures: Spencer Leiske (LS), Tanner Nault (S), Justin Merta (M), Simon Lidster (M)
EDMONTON – For the Alberta Golden Bears, the time for change is now.
Gone from the team that finished first in Canada West last season with a 17-1 record, are starters Spencer Leiske (LS), Tanner Nault (S), middles Justin Merta and Simon Lidster, as well as depth player Christopher Womack.
Three current Golden Bears spent time competing with Canada’s junior team this summer, and will look to bring that experience to the line-up. Setter Jarron Mueller, middle Tristan Aubry and outside hitter Jay Olmstead all donned the Red and White this summer, and all three will be key cogs for the Green and Gold now. Right-side Mitch Irvine and middle Matt McCreary should also significant time on the floor as either starters or back-ups.
Veteran Libero Erik Mattson will be the lone starting holdover from 2010, and likely be counted on heavily for his leadership and experience at the CIS level.
BRANDON BOBCATS
2010-11 conference record: 10-8 (5th)
2011 playoffs: 3-2 (silver)
2011 CIS: 2-1 (silver)
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: #8
CW ranking: #7
Key additions: Paul Robidoux, Ben Glue, Luke Reynolds, Brock Payne, Jeremy Stubler, DJ McCharles
Key returnees: Dan Boutwell, Craig Lowe, Scott Neufeld, Garrett Popplestone, Jon Sloane, Brendan White
Key departures: Paul Sanderson, Kevin Miller, Kyle Dellezay
BRANDON - Re-joining the Bobcats will be Paul Robidoux, Luke Reynolds and Brock Payne. Robidoux and Reynolds are coming back to Brandon after wrapping up their fourth-year of eligibility in 2009. Payne is transferring back to Brandon after spending one season with Keyano College. He spent his freshman year with the Bobcats in 2009-2010.
New faces include Nelson, New Zealand product Ben Glue and Red Deer College transfer Jeremy Stubler. High school recruits include Brandon product and Crocus Plains High School grad DJ McCharles and Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute grad David Stascia.
Coming back to the team are last season’s team rookie of the year Brendan White and fellow Australian Craig Lowe. White and Lowe spend the summer playing for team Australia at the summer FISU games. The lone returning fifth-year from last year’s silver medal team is middle Jon Sloane, who was named a Canada West second-team all-star last year.
Starting libero will be Scott Neufeld, who has quietly become one of the best liberos in the conference, finishing third in digs last season (169). Other returnees include Brandon product Garrett Popplestone, Dan Boutwell and Brett Young, all of whom will be relied on heavily as the season rolls along.
UBC THUNDERBIRDS
2010-11 conference record: 7-11 (7th)
2011 playoffs: 0-2
Last CW title: 1984
Last CIS title: 1983
CIS ranking: #5
CW ranking: #5
Key returnees: Cary Brett, Tanner Kozak, Demian Savija, Yari Kozel
Key additions: Noah Derksen, Jarrid Ireland, Alex Russell, Parker Jobin, David Zeyha
Key departures: Blair Bann, Ryan Zwarich, Ben Chow (injured)
VANCOUVER – Three-time CIS Libero of the Year Blair Bann is gone, but UBC returns a large, experienced group of fifth-year seniors, who will be looking to leave their mark on the Canada West and CIS in their final year of play.
Head coach Richard Schick is very enthusiastic about his newest additions. Standout rookies include setter Milan Nikic from Calgary, outside attacker Gabriel Aaron from Ottawa, middle Alex Russell from Surrey who was one of the top rated high school players in B.C. as well Noah Derksen and Jarrid Ireland (Winnipeg), both former Manitoba Provincial Team players. Derksen was named the Volleyball Manitoba U18 Tier I Player of the Year.
Incoming transfers include Parker Jobin and David Zeyha, both of whom previously played at Grande Prairie Regional College, as well as Norweigan Sjur Godø.
UBC OKANAGAN HEAT (inaugural CIS
season)
2010-11 conference record: N/A
2011 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #11
Key additions: Jon Russo, Riley McFarland, Leigh Goossen, Brett Uniat
Key returnees: Preston Tucker, Nate Speijer, Mark Broome, Greg Niemantsverdriet
Key departures: Chris Howe, Aleks Bergen
KELOWNA, BC – The UBC Okanagan Heat enter their first year of CIS action and look to have an immediate impact much like the Thompson Rivers WolfPack and Brandon Bobcats have. TRU made the playoffs after one season and Brandon after two.
Heat coach Greg Poitras took his team to a collegiate national final last year and has a good mix of veteran players and talented newcomers on this year’s squad.
The Heat will be led by fifth-year setter Preston Tucker, the 2011 CCAA Male Athlete of the Year and two-time All-Canadian. Nate Speijer, a two time All Canadian is in his fourth year and the strong outside hitter will bring his aggressive game to the CIS level. Other fourth-year players are Riley McFarland, Brett Uniat and Steve Clements. McFarland is an outside hitter that has transferred back to the Heat from the UBC Thunderbirds program.
To mx with his veterans Poitras has recruited one of the three top BC high school volleyball players this past season in Jon Russo, whom in Poitras’ opinion “was the best all-round high school player in the province.” To go with Russo, Poitras has added two of his Team BC teammates in middle blocker Leigh Goossen and defensive specialist Jeremy Fostvelt to his recruiting class and will looking to make an impression this year.
A couple of other veteran players such as Mark Broome, a middle and sometimes outside hitter and Greg Niemantsverdriet, both national tournament all-stars last year, will be featured in the rotation as both are impact players with a ton of experience.
http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/athletics/welcome.html
CALGARY DINOS
2010-11 conference record: 16-2 (2nd)
2011 playoffs: 4-0 (gold)
2011 CIS: 2-1 (bronze)
Last CW title: 2011
Last CIS title: 2010
CIS ranking: #4
CW ranking: #2
Key additions: Greg Mann, Daniel Ryskamp, Ivan Kartev
Key returnees: Graham Vigrass, Jay Blankenau, Allen Meek
Key departures: Curtis James, Ciaran McGovern, David Egan, Blake Giles
CALGARY – Despite graduating five fifth-year seniors and a former starting setter from the program, the defending Canada West champion and CIS bronze medallist Calgary Dinos look to be right in the thick of it again in 2011-12.
Led by CIS player of the year and Canada West BLG Award nominee Graham Vigrass, the Dinos return a solid, veteran lineup, many of whom were part of the post-season runs in both 2010 and 2011 that brought home CIS and Canada West titles, respectively.
Vigrass, who completes an outstanding CIS career in 2011-12, joined setter Jay Blankenau to represent Canada at the Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China last August. That pair, along with right side Allen Meek, left side Levi Nutma, and libero Jace Richards, represent the five graduating fifth-year seniors who have one last chance to win a championship in their varsity careers. Left side Chris Hoag, meanwhile, will be counted on for significant offensive production for the Dinos.
Sixth-year head coach Rod Durrant brought in several transfer players this season to replace those that were lost. One of the most intriguing stories is Ivan Kartev, a seven-foot-one middle from Calais, France who starred for Keyano College in Lloydminster, Alta. last year. Kartev joins Daniel Ryskamp, Travis Banks, and Will Young as transfers, with the latter trio moving up the road from Mount Royal University.
MANITOBA BISONS
2010-11 conference record: 11-7 (4th)
2011 playoffs: 1-2
Last CW title: 2003
Last CIS title: 2003
CIS ranking: #3
CW ranking: #4
Key addition: Evan Schmidt
Key returnees: Ryan Munt, Chris Voth, Dane Pischke, Chris Komishon, Joseph Brooks
Key departures: none
WINNIPEG – All the starters return as the Bisons are in the middle of a strong cycle that has head coach Garth Pischke, in his 31st season, looking for another trip to the CIS Nationals. Manitoba just missed out of the Nationals when they lost in the Canada West Quarter-Final at home to Brandon and feel this is a season to take one step higher and compete at a higher level.
The Bisons have already had several tight matches early in the season and have continued to build as a cohesive unit.
Manitoba has numerous players that have several accolades. Fourth year left Chris Voth played for Team Canada at the 2011 Summer Universiade; second year setter Chris Komishon was Canada West Rookie of the Year; fourth year right side Dane Pischke along with fifth year left side Ryan Munt add depth and skill at their positions while fourth year middle Joseph Brooks, fourth year middle Carson Kauenhowen and second year right side Evan Jackson have important starter roles.
The Bisons will strive to battle for a top conference spot and again host a playoff series before a 26 trip to the Nationals for head coach Pischke.
REGINA COUGARS
2010-11 conference record: 2-16 (10th, missed
playoffs)
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #10
Key additions: L Jacques Borgeaud, OH Andre Borgeaud, MB Marco Vargas
Key returnees: MB Joel Colter, OH Jamie Wilkins
Key departures: RS Leon Dyck, L Lindsey Isaak
REGINA – Regina will sport a new look this year as head coach Greg Barthel has several new recruits that he expects will make an immediate impact for the Cougars.
Leading the group of returners is fifth-year middle blocker and team co-captain Joel Colter, who set school single-season records in both total blocks and blocks per set last year after transferring from Lethbridge College. Also back for a fifth and final season is outside hitter Jamie Wilkins, who finished ninth in Canada West with an average of 3.16 kills per set last year.
In the middle is fifth-year Drew Smith. The team’s crop of fifth-year players is rounded out by Brody Waddell, who switches to right side this season after playing his first four years at the U of R at left side.
At setter, Caleb Eschbach and Matt Hender have split the setting duties through the non-conference schedule and that is expected to continue through when Canada West matches start this week.
As for the newcomers, libero Jacques Borgeaud has extensive experience with the Australian National Junior team and is should fill the absence left by the graduation of Lindsey Isaak quite nicely. Jacques’ older brother Andre has shown the ability to hit multiple shots and play solid defence and will start alongside Wilkins at left side. Middle blocker Marco Vargas will also see significant playing time after transferring from Mount Royal University, while Barthel has described first-year right side Andrew Nelson (Campbell Collegiate) as a quickly developing player who’s been dynamic at the net.
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES
2010-11 conference record: 3-15 (8th, missed playoffs)
Last CW title: 2004
Last CIS title: 2004
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #8
Key additions: Phil Duffy, Andrew McWiggan
Key returnees: Matthew Busse, Geoffrey Zerr, Braden McLean, Jeff Grant
Key departure: Adam McTavish
SASKATOON - With Canada West experience under their belt, the Saskatchewan Huskies look to nab a playoff spot under 18-year head coach Brian Gavlas.
Starting middle blockers Geoffrey Zerr and Braden McLean, as well as outside hitters Matthew Busse and Jeff Grant, all learned from a tough 2010-11 season finishing with a 3-15 record with wins over the Winnipeg Wesmen and Regina Cougars.
Fifth-year Zerr tallied 92 kills and 41 blocks up the middle, while third-year McLean, who represented Canada on the Junior National team, added 88 kills and a team-high 50 blocks. Third-year Busse was one of the Huskies top offensive players tallying a team-high 188 kills, 9 service aces and 33 blocks. Grant, a fourth-year who split time at the left side and libero positions, recorded 92 kills, 10 service aces, 117 digs and 18 blocks.
Chris Gilbert returns to the setter position after 253 assists in 16 matches. He will be joined by rookie Andrew McWiggan. McWiggan played with Australia’s national volleyball program for three years and was voted MVP twice in the Victorian Schools Cup.
Also joining the team is ACAC transfer Phil Duffy. Duffy played with the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves last season, leading the conference in digs with 3.5 per set.
THOMPSON RIVERS WOLFPACK
2010-11 conference record: 9-9 (6th)
2011 playoffs: 0-2
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: #10
CW ranking: #6
Key additions: Brad Gunter (outside hitter), Chris Osborne (outside hitter), Jacob Tricarico (middle)
Key returnees: Colin Carson (setter), Alex Davis (middle), Spencer Reed (libero), Aleks Saddlemyer (outside hitter), Mike Hawkins (setter)
Key departures: Kevin Tillie (outside hitter), Joel Caschetto (middle)
KAMLOOPS, BC – Pat Hennelly has a new list of imports, such as middle Mohamed Abdel Rehim, Krzysztof Orman, along with Chris Osborne and Jacob Tricarico.
Mohamed played on the Egyptian Junior and Youth National teams. Osborne red shirted last season after playing a year at the University of Manitoba and has played NCAA Division I basketball and volleyball in the past. Orman played beach volleyball internationally for Poland. Tricarico played California Junior College volleyball and was looking to come to Canada and chose TRU.
Third-years Colin Carson and Spencer Reed have taken leadership roles and Alex Davis, 6’8” middle, spent some time with Canada’s Junior National team before being injured.
The WolfPack are a young squad again this year, with only two fifth-year players: Aleks Saddlemeyer and Mike Hawkins.
http://www.tru.ca/athletics.html
TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS
2010-11 conference record: 13-5 (3rd)
2011 playoffs: 3-1 (3rd)
2011 CIS: 3-0 (gold)
Last CW title: 2007
Last CIS title: 2011
YouTube Video
Preview
CIS ranking: #1
CW ranking: #1
Key additions: outside Steven Marshall, outside Brad Kufske, libero Tyler Koslowsky
Key returnees: Marc Howatson, Rudy Verhoeff, Ben Ball, Lucas Van Berkel
Key departures: none
LANGLEY, BC – Last season Trinity Western toured Russia, overcame many injuries and solidified as a team just in time to win the programs second CIS national championship at home in front of their faithful fans.
The Spartans see the return of Canada West first team All-Star and 2011 CIS tournament All-Star Steven Marshall after a year off, as well as the return of Canadian Junior National team outside hitter Brad Kufske, both of whom were on the floor when the Spartans earned CIS silver in 2010.
They team returns all but two players from last year’s squad
Back are CIS tournament MVP and Canadian National B team member 6-5 middle Rudy Verhoeff, Canadian National B team member and CIS tournament all-star 6-7 left side Marc Howatson, who recovered from a near career-ending injury last September, CIS tournament all-star and Canadian Youth National team member 6-4 setter Ben Ball, Canadian Jr. National team member 6-9 middle Lucas Van Berkel, Canadian Jr. National team member 6-6 middle Branden Schmidt, and CIS All-Rookie team member 6-4 outside Nicholas Del Bianco.
WINNIPEG WESMEN
2010 conference record: 2-16 (9th, missed playoffs)
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: 2007
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #9
Key additions: Zack Diboll, Stephane Waldie
Key returnees: Matthew Stubler, Ty Loewen, Devin Schmidt, Brendan Black
Key departures: Marc Ross, Matthew Schriemer, Dan Lother
WINNIPEG – Head coach Larry McKay (23rd season) saw his team go through some growing pains last season but looks for better things heading into the new season.
Fifth-year setter Zack Diboll with previous experience at the University of Manitoba is ready to set up the Wesmen offence after sitting out last year due to Canada West transfer regulations. Libero Stephane Waldie joins the team after previous stops at UBC and Brandon. Third-year players Devin Schmidt and Matthew Stubler will be looked upon to provide experience and quality court time. A quartet of second-year players Ty Loewen, Brendan Black, Nathaniel Therrien and Thomas Douglas-Powell all saw substantial court time last season and each will be looking for better things in their second seasons with the Wesmen. Erik Wiebe and Derek Miller round out the list of veterans.
McKay will have five first-year recruits on his roster. Tanner McFeetors, Josh McKay and Riley Delavau all join the Wesmen from Dakota Collegiate.
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
16 schools from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta
and British Columbia, Canada West 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. www.canadawest.org / www.canadawest.tv
