2010-11 Canada West women's volleyball preview

Photo credit Ivan Tam, Huskies Athletics / Story via www.canadawest.org

Alberta Pandas
CW Rank: #2
CIS Rank: #3

2009-10 CW Record: 12-8, 6th
2010 CW Playoffs: 0-2
2010 CIS Tournament: 1-2, 4th
Last CW Title: 2008
Last CIS Title: 2007

Key returnees: Tiffany Proudfoot, Jaki Ellis, Jen Restall
Key additions: Jenice Warkentin, Jessica Clutton, Maddy McDonald, Lia Stang, Whitney Matheson
Key departures: Camille Wallace and Meggie Moir

EDMONTON - The University of Alberta Pandas volleyball team comes into the 2010-11 season looking to improve upon their CIS fourth place finish last season.

Gone from last season’s squad are three players in starting middle Camille Wallace, right side player Meggie Moir and back-up libero Erinn Brady.

Among the key returning players is starting left-side Tiffany Proudfoot who led Canada West and the CIS championship tournament in kills last season. Third-year setter Jaki Ellis is also back, as is fifth-year power Jen Restall, fourth-year middle Caitlin Buckell and third-year outside hitter Krista Zubick. Erin Walsh also returns as the team’s libero.

Newcomers Jenice Warkentin (middle), Maddy McDonald (left-side) and Jessica Clutton should see floor time as well.

Golden Bears & Pandas Athletics

Brandon Bobcats
CW Rank: #3
CIS Rank: T#4

2009-10 CW Record: 13-7, 5th
2010 CW Playoffs: 0-2
2010 CIS Tournament: N/A
Last CW Title: N/A
Last CIS Title: N/A

Key returnees: Teagan Hunter, Becky Young, Sara Grona
Key additions: Victoria Dakin, Donata Huebert , Chloe Reimer, Larissa Vonkeman, Meaghan Robertson
Key departures: Erin Visch-Krahn , Nicole Ban, Nicole Clemons

BRANDON - Lee Carter is not afraid to put pressure on himself or his team. In the short five-year history of the Brandon Bobcats women’s volleyball team Carter is setting his sights on a national championship appearance for the 2010-2011 season.

Carter expects big things out of his fifth-year players. Local products Teagan Hunter and Becky Young, as well as Sara Grona of Porcupine Plains, SK are all entering their final year of eligibility and will start at left side, setter and right side, respectively.

This year’s recruits are led by import Donata Huebert, a 5’10” libero from Minden, Germany. Adding Victoria Dakin, Meaghan Robertson, Chloe Reimer, and Larissa Vonkeman to the mix, Carter says they will be a strong team for years to come. Dakin, Robertson, and Remier have all had experience competing at the National level for their respective club teams since the age of 15. Vonkeman is a pure athlete who excelled at basketball, track and field and volleyball in high school.

Bobcat Athletics

UBC Thunderbirds
CW Rank: #4
CIS Rank: #7

2009-10 CW Record: 20-0, 1st
2010 CW Playoffs: 2-0, 1st
2010 CIS Tournament: 3-0, 1st
Last CW Title: 2010
Last CIS Title: 2010

Key returnees: Jen Hinze, Kyla Richey, Shanice Marcelle
Key additions: Lisa Barclay, Rosie Schlagintweit
Key departures: Liz Cordonier, Claire Hanna, Katie Tyzuk

VANCOUVER - For the past two seasons, they have made it look easy, as returning starters and inexperienced prospects alike have stepped up their game and led the T-Birds to their second and third straight CIS championships.

UBC is back in that position again this year, having lost three starters from last year’s undefeated team including CIS MVP and BLG Award winner Liz Cordonier. All-Canadians Kyla Richey and Jen Hinze will also miss the first semester playing for Team Canada at the World Volleyball Championships in Japan.

No matter how well the veterans perform this year, the first-years, who dominate the roster, will have to contribute as well for the team to be successful. Lisa Barclay, a 6-foot-2 left side attacker from Brandon, leads an impressive rookie class and was named the 2009 U17 National Player of the Year. Rosie Schlagintweit, Abbey Keeping and Jenelle Franz helped the Fraser Valley Blitz win three straight U18 national titles before donning the blue and gold.

GoThunderbirds.ca

Calgary Dinos
CW Rank: #7
CIS Rank: #6

2009-10 CW Record: 10-10, 7th
2010 CW Playoffs: 0-2
2010 CIS Tournament: N/A
Last CW Title: 2005
Last CIS Title: 2005

Key returnees: Sarah Lacny, Maura Hayes, Lindsey Doland
Key additions: Laura Wilson, Courtney Dawson, Jordhynn Guy
Key departures: Raynell Lavertu, Laura Spence, Laura Littlejohn

CALGARY – Calgary’s attendance streak at the CIS women’s volleyball championship came to an end at nine last year as the Dinos failed to advance through the first round of the playoffs.

head coach Jesse Knight has former National Team player Laura Wilson back after rehabbing from knee surgery last year, and Calgary will look to her to provide timely kills on the left side. Ali Sandholm and Mel Miazga anchor the Dinos in the middle, while Courtney Dawson out of the Dinos Volleyball Club is a highly-touted recruit – also in the middle.

Setter Jordhynn Guy is another solid recruit out of the Dinos club, and she will join veteran Sarah Lacny in distributing the ball around the floor. Brooke Halvorsen takes over at libero after transferring from Simon Fraser University, and the team will look to sophomore Newfoundlander and former junior national team member Maura Hayes to continue the fine form she showed in her rookie season.

GoDinos.com

Manitoba Bisons
CW Rank: #1
CIS Rank: #2

2009-10 CW Record: 15-5, 2nd
2010 CW Playoffs: 3-1, 2nd
2010 CIS Tournament: 2-1, 2nd
Last CW Title: N/A
Last CIS Title: 2002

Key returnees: Ashley Voth, Sam Loewen, Kate Wasyliw, Tricia Mayba, Amy Toews, Kristi Hunter, Nicole Hall
Key additions: Rachel Cockrell, Kierstyn Bakker
Key departures: Sarah Morrissette

WINNIPEG - After earning a CIS silver medal, the Manitoba Bisons retain all starters for this season and have one goal on their mind – a return trip to the CIS Nationals and a chance to move to the top of the rung in the country.

In his 25th season with the Bisons, head coach Ken Bentley has back fifth-year captains right side Ashley Voth and middle Amy Toews (nee Penner). Voth has had a remarkable career not only with the Bisons but also with the Senior National Women’s team. She was named as 2009-10 CIS First Team All-Canadian while fifth in the conference in hitting percentage. Toews has been a steady influence throughout her career and been a leader on and off the court.

Along with the captains, fourth-year setter Sam Loewen, named a 2009-10 CW Second Team All-Star and first in assists with 10.15/set. Fourth-year left side Kate Wasyliw was second in conference service aces and third on team in kills while fourth-year middle Tricia Mayba had a great summer with Team Canada Senior Women’s team. Fourth-year left side/middle Kristi Hunter was second on the team in kills and seventh in the conference in hitting percentage last season. Third year libero Nicole Hall is rehabbing from an injury suffered at the CIS final game and was fifth in conference digs last season.

Two rookies are pushing for significant minutes in their first year of eligibility - left side/right side Rachel Cockrell and left side Kierstyn Bakker.

GoBisons.ca

Regina Cougars
CW Rank: #9
CIS Rank: N/A

2009-10 CW Record: 13-7, 4th
2010 CW Playoffs: 3-1, 3rd
2010 CIS Tournament: 2-1, 5th
Last CW Title: N/A
Last CIS Title: N/A

Key returnees: Tiffany Herman, Meagan Onstad, Solveig Nilson, Rebecca Rink
Key additions: Beth Clark, Meagan Smith
Key departure: Michelle Sweeting

REGINA - After finishing fifth at the 2010 CIS championship and with most key players returning, the Regina women’s volleyball team expects to contend again in 2010-11.

Leaders include fourth-year setter Tiffany Herman, second in the conference with 695 assists last season and 10.62/set during the post-season. Herman has missed the entire non-conference schedule with a broken finger, but Cougars head coach Melanie Sanford expects her to return early in the Canada West schedule. Talayna Tremblay has handled the bulk of the setting duties in Herman’s absence.

On the left side, starters Meagan Onstad and Kaitlyn Hughes return for the Cougars. Onstad caught fire late in the season, putting down at least 12 kills in 10 of the team’s last 11 matches, including a career-high 20 in the team’s Canada West bronze medal match. Hughes started 19 of the team’s 20 conference matches last season.

Roxanne Olynyk will start at right side in place of the graduated Meagan Smith. At libero, back are Rebecca Rink and Megan Semeniuk. Rink’s average of 3.66 digs per set last season ranks second in U of R history.

All-Canadian Beth Clark has moved on. Solveig Nilson will take on an expanded role and rookie Michelle Sweeting will see plenty of floor time.

ReginaCougars.com

Saskatchewan Huskies
CW Rank: #8
CIS Rank: N/A

2009-10 CW Record: 3-17, 9th
2010 CW Playoffs: N/A
2010 CIS Tournament: N/A
Last CW Title: 1992
Last CIS Title: 1981

Key returnees: Haley Manson, Erin McGladdery, Candace Hueser, Kira Zeeben
Key additions: Quinn Schulzke, Katie Graves
Key departures: Danae Lockert, Shauna Weber, Ashley Schurko

SASKATOON - With leadership from senior athletes Haley Manson and Erin McGladdery, the Saskatchewan Huskie women’s volleyball team will look to come out on the winning side.

Manson, who spent her first seasons with the Huskies as an outside hitter, will move to the libero position. In 2009-10, she had 56 digs. McGladdery will continue to help the Huskies on the attack as an outside hitter. Also returning to the team is outside hitter Candace Hueser, middle blocker Laura Beadle and setter Erin Foster. In Hueser’s first year in the CIS, she led the Huskies with 230 kills and was named the Huskie Athletics Female Rookie of the Year. Beadle finished with 23 kills and blocks, while Foster started all 20 matches at setter tallying 528 assists. Rejoining the Huskies after a year absence is middle blocker Kira Zeeben

Helping the Huskies with leadership and experience will be Red Deer College transfers Quinn Schulzke and Katie Graves. Both were crowned ACAC champions in 2008-09 and 2009-10. Both were also named conference all-stars. Graves, an outside hitter, tallied 187 kills last year, while Schulzke, a setter, was second in the ACAC in service aces with 25. Also joining the team will be outside hitter Lindsie Scott, middle blocker Celeste Wagner, outside hitter Kelsey Bates and defensive specialist Megan Leniuk.

huskies.usask.ca

Thompson Rivers WolfPack
CW Rank: #10
CIS Rank: N/A

2009-10 CW Record: 1-19, 11th
2010 CW Playoffs: N/A
2010 CIS Tournament: N/A
Last CW Title: N/A
Last CIS Title: N/A

Key returnees: Amanda Frayne, Anna Dyakiewicz, Kelly Asleson
Key additions: Katarina Osadchuk, Denai Wouters, Hanna Minck
Key departure: Marilia Vasconcellos

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – New head coach Keith Lundgren has taken up the challenge of rebuilding the program after spending nine seasons in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.

Lundgren has brought in four key recruits: Setter Kara Twomey, Middle/Outside hitter Katarina Osadchuk, who played two years for the Australian Junior National Team, libero Denai Wouters, who played ACAC with Lakeland two years ago and outside hitter Hanna Minck, who returns to competitive volleyball after taking a year off from the BCCAA Vancouver Island University Mariners.

The fifth young addition to the WolfPack is Kira Sutcliffe, who played for the Kelowna volleyball club the K’Roos.

Returning for the WolfPack are Anna Dyakiewicz (4th year, outside hitter). Dyakiewicz was second in kills in the Canada West last season, averaging 3.48 points per set. Also returning are Amanda Frayne (4th, outside hitter), Kelly Asleson (4th, outside hitter), Vanessa Wiebe (4th, middle), Kristen Knudskov (2nd, setter), Ashley Koehn (5th, outside hitter) and Lindsay Uppenborn (2nd, outside hitter).

TRU Athletics

Trinity Western Spartans
CW Rank: #5
CIS Rank: #8

2009-10 CW Record: 13-7, 3rd
2010 CW Playoffs: 0-2
2010 CIS Tournament: N/A
Last CW Title: N/A
Last CIS Title: N/A

Key returnees: Kara Jansen Van Doorn, Andrea Ball, Chelsea Hudson, Nicole Bazin, Amy Leschied
Key additions: Casie Gano, Jacqueline Tait, Royale Richardson, Chelsea Wand, Carly Hamilton, Lauren Moncks, Alicia Perrin
Key departures: Lauren O’Reilly (fall semester with Team Canada), Carmen Dyck, Kim Klassen

LANGLEY, .B.C. – With 12 of 15 players having two years or less years of CIS experience, the TWU Spartans are a bit of an unknown this year.

Veterans are dynamic 6-1 fifth-year outside Kara Jansen Van Doorn, a CW Second Team All-Star after finishing fourth in points with 3.96/set and fifth in kills/set at 3.26, and talented 5-8 libero Andrea Ball, who led Canada West in digs/set with 3.92, fourth-year setter Chelsea Hudson, fourth-year libero Jodi Neufeld, third-year middle Nicole Bazin, third-year middle Amy Leschied, second-year libero Chelsea Fitchette, second-year outside Chelsea Wand and second-year middle Lindsay Dykman.

Head coach Ryan Hofer has acquired a strong and physical rookie class for the 2010-11 season. Spartans who are looking to make an immediate impression in Canada West are 6-1 outside Casie Gano (Sundre, Alta.), 6-0 outside Jacqueline Tait (Vancouver), 6-1 outside Royale Richardson (Rockie Mountain House, Alta.), 6-0 outside Chelsea Wand (Langley, B.C.), 5-11 outside Carly Hamilton (Calgary), 6-2 setter Lauren Moncks (Standard, Alta.) and 6-2 middle Alicia Perrin (Creston, B.C.).

Setter and CIS All-Canadian Lauren O’Reilly will be with Team Canada as they participate in this year’s World Championships, while outside hitter Amber Brown is recovering from a knee injury.

TWU Spartans

Winnipeg Wesmen
CW Rank: #6
CIS Rank: #9

2009-10 CW Record: 7-13, 8th
2010 CW Playoffs: N/A
2010 CIS Tournament: N/A
Last CW Title: N/A
Last CIS Title: 1993

Key returnees: Lauren Sears, Alix Krahn, Sonia Rossy, Carleen Kruschel, Alicia Perry, Miranda Grayson
Key additions: Brittany Habing, Mackenzie Jeffrey, Kelsey Konihowski, Jina Barker, Erika Willows
Key departures: Ariel Smith, Leah Brezinski, Danica Hughes

WINNIPEG After making significant strides last season, head coach Diane Scott (16th Season) and her team are looking for more this season, including a playoff berth.

Middle blockers Lauren Sears and Alix Krahn both return for their fourth season. Sears is coming off her best season to date (189 kills, 34 service aces and 59 blocks), Krahn was fourth in kills (137) and led the team in blocks (65). Both are expected to man the middle this season. Sonia Rossy, the 2009-2010 CIS Rookie of the Year returns for her second season. Rossy was second on the team in kills (176) and digs (293) .Carleen Kruschel also in year two led the team in digs (294) last season and will be looked upon as a leader on the court. Alicia Perry, Miranda Grayson, Kaelyn Gauthier and Kaley Gilham all return for their second season’s with the team.

Scott was successful in recruiting five players: setter Brittany Habing, who will lead the Wesmen attack comes with an impressive resume including several all-stars, MVPs and championships at the club level. Jina Barker and Kelsey Konihowski (Saskatoon) will be looking to make an impression this year. Local players Mackenzie Jeffrey and Erika Willows round out the list of first year players.

Winnipeg Wesmen

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 since 1997-98. Comprised of 14 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,