HOFER, EPP, HOWE NAMED TO CANADA WEST ALL-STAR TEAMS

LANGLEY, B.C. – With all Canada West conference play coming to a close, Derek Epp (Saskatoon), Brodie Hofer (Langley, B.C.), and Jackson Howe (Calgary) have been named Canada West All-Stars after an incredible 2021-22 season.

This season’s conference all-star nominations stand as familiar territory for all three athletes who have been named to their respective all-star teams this season. Both Epp and Hofer earned spots on the first team while Howe rounds out the second team.

Brodie Hofer was other-worldly this season. The third-year, heavy-hitting outside was simply dominant in what was a historical season for not only himself, but TWU’s men’s volleyball program as a whole. Hofer set TWU’s records in points per set (5.1) and kills per set (4.35) to finish second in the conference for both metrics. With the volume of sets Hofer received from fellow first-team all-star Derek Epp, Hofer made quick work of opposing defences, finishing first in Canada West’s kill percentage leaderboards by converting on .398 of his attempts at the net.

Derek Epp, who is playing his final season as a member of the Spartans, has enjoyed an outstanding season in orchestrating an explosive offensive group for TWU. Widely known as a standout setter within Canada West, Epp still finished ninth in the conference for assists per set (7.92) while sharing a portion of his sets with Mathias Elser (Calgary). This is Epp’s second-straight season earning his selection to Canada West’s first all-star team.

Jackson Howe, an incredibly high-flying middle, has highlighted a strong season up the middle for the Spartans, averaging 2.18 kills per set on an ever-efficient .485 throughout the 2021-22 season. Joining Epp as one of three graduating seniors on TWU’s men’s volleyball team this season, Howe’s importance to TWU’s offensive strategies since his first year in 2017-18 cannot be understated. The fourth-year middle earned his first Canada West All-Star selection this year after being named to the All-Rookie Team in his first year.

After going 3-0 in the first weekend of the Canada West Playoffs, TWU will host between UFV and the Langley Events Centre once again, playing Saskatchewan on Friday (@ UFV, 8 p.m.), then hosting Calgary at the Langley Events Centre on Sunday (4 p.m.).

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women’s rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men’s rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.

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