MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: LAKERS BRING IN A STRONG OUTSIDE PRESENCE

The Nipissing Lakers men’s volleyball team has secured a strong part of the team’s future with their latest signing.

The Lakers are excited and proud to announce the addition of Ryan Vriezema, a left side who will join the program for the 2022-23 OUA season.

Vriezema will join the Lakers after wrapping up his club career with the Barrie Elites, where he was both captain and MVP.

The same accolades he earned with his high school program.

The Midhurst, ON native is looking forward to the next chapter in his career and is excited it will take place with the Lakers.

“I am absolutely thrilled to become a member with one of the top schools in the OUA for volleyball. I look forward to playing with some of the top players in Ontario as well as learning from University coaches,” he explained.

The talented left side will be enrolling in the BPHE program at Nipissing when school begins in the fall.

His attitude and approach to the game are huge assets for Vriezema who believes he has the ability to help the program continue making strides and finding success in the OUA.

“I am a strong willed player who will put in effort and passion to further my skill and knowledge of the sport. I am a player who is constantly thinking about how to outplay the opposing team with quick thinking skills,” explained. “I am a very motivated person who is both strong mentally and physically.”

Laker head coach Eric Yung said he likes what Vriezema can bring to the court, but also the addition he’ll make the program as a whole.

“We are adding another quality young man who has a strong desire to put in the necessary work to succeed at this level. We believe Ryan compliments our culture well with his attitude and leadership attributes and we look forward to helping him grow over the next six years,” Yung noted.

A former member of Team Ontario White, Red and Black, Vriezema is looking forward the challenges ahead and will use them as opportunities to improve himself as a student-athlete.

Nipissing will offer him the chance to succeed both on and off the court.

“As a newcomer, I will train with the team to get more skill, power and knowledge of the game at a new level. I am very excited because this league would be a whole new world where I can only improve,” he said. “I also look forward to building relationships with my teammates which will further the team’s cohesion.

“The program that I will be taking in the fall appeals to me because it is an active course and you learn about anatomy, leadership and sport psychology which I really enjoy,” Vriezema added.