Koop fulfills lifelong goal by joining the ‘Pack

KAMLOOPS – A transfer from the college ranks with a prodigious background has earned the chance to compete at the highest level of university volleyball in Canada when Tyson Koop joins the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball team for the 2024-25 season.
 
“I had the opportunity to watch Tyson play at the Provincial Championships last year,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “Tyson was playing out of natural position (setter) and I was impressed with his attitude and compete level, he is a great student and leader and I feel will have an immediate impact as a setter in our program.”
 
Originally from Steinbach, MB Koop spent the last four years playing at the B.C. Collegiate level with the Douglas College Royals.
 
“I chose the WolfPack to fulfill my childhood dream of playing Canada West and U SPORTS volleyball,” said Koop. 

Graduating high school during the COVID 19 pandemic, Koop’s recruitment process was impacted but he never faltered on his path to play post-secondary volleyball.
 
“With the pandemic halting all sport, I was forced to bet on myself and continue my volleyball career through the college league,” said Koop. “I was blessed to find a home at Douglas College.”

After three strong seasons as a setter, Koop was the ultimate team player this past season when he transitioned to play as an outside hitter to help the team.
 
“I had given up on my U SPORTS dream, and was committed to helping Douglas become the best program it could be,” said Koop. “Even though I was content with my decision to stay in the CCAA, my father, mother, and twin brother all played/play at the U SPORTS level and I was left wondering if I was on par with their skill level.”
 
When the door re-opened this summer for Koop to make the jump to play for the ‘Pack, the 6-5 setter had no second thoughts about what he wanted to do.
 
“There was no doubt in my mind that although I loved Douglas College, I needed to make the move up to TRU to continue my academic and athletic career,” said Koop. “A special thanks goes out to my parents, my twin brother Paxton, my coach at Douglas Jay Tremonti, and my Royals teammates for crafting me into the player I have become today.”

Koop comes from the definition of a volleyball family. His mother and father both played U SPORTS volleyball with his mother, Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, going on to represent Canada at the Olympics, while his twin brother Paxton currently plays for the University of Winnipeg.
 
“We are really excited to have Tyson Koop join our roster for this season,” said Hennelly.
 
A four-time CCAA National Scholar, Koop plans to work towards a Masters of Science in Data Science at TRU.

Name: Tyson Koop
Position: Setter
Height: 6’5″
Hometown: Steinbach, MB
Last team: Douglas College
High School: Steinbach Regional Secondary