MVB: TWU duo headlines First-Team All-Star roster

CALGARY — A setter/hitter tandem that has taken the U SPORTS volleyball world by storm headlines Canada West’s all-star line-up. The conference released its first team, second team and all-rookie team Wednesday.

First Team All-Stars

Setter Derek Epp and outside hitter Brodie Hofer have led their Trinity Western Spartans to the top spot in the country and now have earned their places on CW’s First Team All-Star roster. Their extremely efficient play has been a big factor in the Spartans’ success.

Fellow setter Max Elgert from Alberta earned his nod after leading Canada West in assists per set this season. He’s joined by the conference leader in kills, Daniel Thiessen out of Winnipeg. The conference’s two-three punch in hitting efficiency, Brandon’s Philipp Lauter and Calgary’s Hamish Hazelden also earned their spots on the first team. And the service ace king Matthew Neaves of British Columbia rounds out the line-up.

Trinity Western and Alberta are now gearing up to host Round Two of the CW Playoffs this weekend. Four teams from those round robins will advance to the Final Four on March 18 and 19.

Full playoff details, results and recaps here.

Tune into the action here.

POSITION / NAME / UNIVERSITY / YEAR / PROGRAM / HOMETOWN
First Team All-Stars

S / Derek Epp / Trinity Western / 4 / Human Kinetics / Saskatoon, SK

S / Max Elgert / Alberta / 5 / Arts / Athabasca, SK

OH / Brodie Hofer / Trinity Western / 3 / Business / Langley, BC

OH / Daniel Thiessen / Winnipeg / 5 / Economics & Finance / Winnipeg, MB

OH / Hamish Hazelden / Calgary / 5 / Arts / Esperance, AUS

M / Philipp Lauter / Brandon / 1 / Music / Wiesbaden, GER

OH / Matthew Neaves / British Columbia / 2 / Business / Calgary, AB

POSITION / NAME / UNIVERSITY / YEAR / PROGRAM / HOMETOWN
Second Team All-Stars

OH / Dylan Mortensen / Saskatchewan / 4 / Business / Swift Current, SK

OH / Chris Byam / Mount Royal / 2 / Health & Phys. Ed / Bow Island, AB

M / Jackson Howe / Trinity Western / 4 / Business / Calgary, AB

M / Billy Johnstone / Alberta / 2 / Kinesiology, Sport & Rec. / Gisborne, NZ

OH / Mike Dowhaniuk / British Columbia / 3 / Applied Science / White Rock, BC

L / Darian Picklyk / Winnipeg / 4 / Business Administration / Birds Hill, MB

M / Luis Lange / Mount Royal / 3 / Business / Calgary, AB

POSITION / NAME / UNIVERSITY / YEAR / PROGRAM / HOMETOWN

All-Rookie Team

M / Philipp Lauter / Brandon / 1 / Music / Wiesbaden, GER

OH / Isaac Heslinga / Alberta / 1 / Engineering / Orangeville, ON

OH / Skyler Varga / Saskatchewan / 1 / Kinesiology / Muenster, SK

S / Mason Greves / British Columbia / 1 / Nat. Resource Cons. / Calgary, AB

M / Louis Kunstmann / Calgary / 1 / Science / Bad Soden, GER

OH / Spencer Grahame / Manitoba / 1 / Engineering / Selkirk, MB

S / Zach Van Geel / British Columbia Okanagan / 1 / Arts / Calgary, AB

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