LANGLEY, British Columbia – The seven-time U SPORTS and Canada West champion Trinity Western Spartans head into this season looking to add to their Canada West and U SPORTS trophy case. The Spartans, who are ranked second in the Canada West preseason coaches’ poll, have won seven of the past 17 conference titles since winning their first in 2007. TWU will look to extend their conference record of 12 straight CW gold medal match appearances this season.
Last season was a rebuilding year for the Spartans with a number of key departures. But this season TWU will have a more experienced squad, having only lost one starter, as they look to make it back to the national championship tournament for a 14th straight season.
Every Spartans men’s volleyball game will be available live and on-demand this season on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of the conference. Passes are now on sale.
HEAD COACH ADAM SCHRIEMER
“We’re really excited about this year’s group. With only losing one starter from last year – although obviously it was a big piece in Henry Rempel, who was a First Team All-Canadian – the fact that almost our whole starting lineup will be back is really exciting. Anselm was a Second-Team Canada West last year as our setter and is the heartbeat of the Spartans. His ability to impact the game in many areas is a strength, having led the conference in assists and aces. Other leaders we are looking to will be our veteran middle blockers Cory Schoenherr and Jackson Corneil. Those guys have been starters for a number of years and they’re playing at a high-level as senior middle blockers now. And obviously we’re really excited to see the return of outside hitters Kaden Schmidt, who had a big summer with the beach national team and Piers de Greeff, who is the reigning U SPORTS and Canada West Rookie of the Year, who had good summer with the U21 national team. So, I think our young hitters and veteran setting and middle play will be the strength of our roster and we’re really looking forward to this season.”
OUTSIDE HITTERS
The Spartans will look to Kaden Schmidt (Mississauga, Ont.) and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year Piers de Greeff (Victoria, B.C.) to take the major load in the outside positions. Last season Schmidt averaged 2.41 kills/set, 0.31 blocks per set, 0.40 aces per set, and 1.30 digs per set, while de Greeff averaged 2.35 kills/set, 0.29 aces/set, 0.34 blocks/set, and 1.37 digs/set. Also contributing to the Spartans outside attack will be third-year Kyden Dmitruk (Surrey, B.C.) and third-year John Obi (Winnipeg).
SETTERS
Anselm Rein (Erfurt, Germany) will once again be running the TWU offence. Last season, Rein led the conference averaging 10.28 set assists/set (966 total) while adding a conference-leading 53 service aces, with 124 digs, and 47 blocks.
MIDDLES
Fourth-years Cory Schoenherr (Waterloo, Ont.) and Jackson Corneil (Surrey, B.C.) will be responsible for a large portion of the middle load. Schoenherr finished last season with 91 blocks (0.94 per set), hitting at .340 with 132 kills, while adding 14 service aces. with Corneil adding 36 kills, hitting at .379. Also stabilizing the Spartans middle presence will be fourth-year Liam Remple (Vernon, B.C.)
LIBERO
The libero position will see third-year Tayler Roxburgh (Langley, B.C.) keeping the ball off of the floor for the Spartans. Roxburgh finished last season averaging 1.26 digs/set.
CANADA WEST PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Alberta Golden Bears – 144 (12)
Trinity Western Spartans – 128 (1)
UBC Thunderbirds – 116
Winnipeg Wesmen – 101
Manitoba Bisons – 92
Saskatchewan Huskies – 91
Brandon Bobcats – 90
Calgary Dinos – 61
Mount Royal Cougars – 49
Thompson Rivers WolfPack – 48
Fraser Valley Cascades – 40
UBC Okanagan Heat – 33
MacEwan Griffins – 21
NOTE: Coaches ranked all opponents 1-13. First-place votes worth 13 points, second-place worth 14 points etc.
BY THE NUMBERS
2023-24 CW regular season record: 16-8, 3rd
2023-24 post-season record: 6-3, CW 2nd U SPORTS 5th
Head Coach: Adam Schriemer 3rd season / 40-27
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2021 / 7
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2023/ 7
2022-23 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 1129 kills (4th)
Defence: 2.00 blocks/set (9th)
Serving: 1.91 aces/set (1st)
2023-24 CW regular season leaders (returning):
Kills/set: 2.41 – Kaden Schmidt, Outside
Assists/set: 10.28 – Anselm Rein, Setter (1st CW)
Digs/set: 1.37 – Piers de Greef, Outside
Blocks: 0.92 – Cory Schoenherr, Middle
Hitting percentage: .442 – Jackson Corneil, Middle
Serving Aces/set: 0.56 – Anselm Rein, Setter (1st CW)
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Willem Van Huizen / setter / first year / Langley, B.C. / Langley Christian
Finn Brandsma / outside / first year / Abbotsford, B.C. / Abbotsford Christian
Zach Hofer / outside / first year / Langley, B.C. / Langley Christian
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Henry Rempel/ Outside / Langley, B.C. / 5 years /Swift Current, SK
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, as well as women’s and men’s disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.
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