LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western’s men’s volleyball team is set to hit the court after an extended break. The reigning Canada West champions will be on the hunt for their seventh Canada West title, with as many U SPORTS championships to their name.
The Spartans have had an excellent extended offseason as many players have represented Team Canada in various events over the past two years. The headlining event was the Pan-American Cup, where the entire team was able to represent Canada at the event.
With immense depth, head coach Ben Josephson will be relying on every player in the rotation to do their part in meeting their lofty goals for the 2021-22 season.
Josephson will be relying on fourth-year libero Colton Loewen (Aldergrove, B.C.) to not only marshal TWU’s backcourt affairs, but to use his toughness, leadership, and emotion to lift the Spartans to achieve the team’s goals.
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 BEN JOSEPHSON
“This might be our deepest group yet. We have great players at every position, with multiple guys who can be on the floor without much difference in our results. This team can see many guys hit the floor for regular minutes.”
OUTSIDE HITTERS
The bulk of TWU’s load on the outside will be carried by Jesse Elser (Calgary), Brodie Hofer (Langley, B.C.), Isaiah Olfert (Winnipeg), and Henry Rempel (Swift Current, Sask.). Elser and Olfert are quite similar in their style of play, combining their strong attacking prowess with balance in every other component that applies to an outside. On the other hand, Hofer and Rempel are physical attackers. Both players can rise up to put down any ball set to them, making them massive factors in TWU’s attacking phase for the upcoming year.
SETTERS
With Derek Epp (Saskatoon) returning for another year with the Spartans, TWU will be able to distribute at a high rate for the upcoming season. Epp is a recognized U SPORTS star, earning a first-team all-star selection in the 2019-20 season after leading Canada West in assists per set with 10.29. Although Epp will likely carry the bulk of the load, Mathias Elser (Calgary) and Anselm Rein (Erfurt, Germany) are definite contenders for regular minutes. All three setters are big, physical, and smart, making for an exciting year of attacking volleyball to come for the Spartans.
MIDDLES
The Spartans are incredibly strong up the middle. Jackson Howe (Calgary) and Jordan Schnitzer (Surrey, B.C.) are incredible athletes who will continue to apply immense pressure on opposing attacks this season. Howe, who led Canada West in attacking efficiency in 2019-20, will be looking to continue his strong run of play that he has shown throughout his three seasons with the Spartans. With Schnitzer carrying a similar skillset that Howe has put on display throughout the past three seasons, the Spartans will be able to think outside the box thanks to the duo’s raw athleticism.
LIBEROS
As mentioned previously, Colton Loewen will be TWU’s mainstay at the libero spot. The fourth-year stepped into a starting role with the Spartans after Carter Bergen’s (’19, Winnipeg) departure, picking up right where Bergen left off. First-year Tate Calles (Anacortes, Washington) is also shaping up to be an incredible libero for the Spartans. Calles is an incredible athlete who has made his way into the United States’ national team system.
BY THE NUMBERS
2019-20 CW regular season record: 20-2, 1st
2019-20 post-season record: 5-1, 1st
Head coach: Ben Josephson (15th season) / 213-63 (Career CW reg. season record)
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2020 / 6
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2019 / 6
2019-20 CW regular season ranks:
Points per set: 17.2, 1st
Kills per set: 12.64, 1st
Hitting percentage: .380, 1st
2019-20 CW regular season leaders:
*Returning players in bold
Kills: 3.89/set – Eric Loeppky, Left Side
Digs: 1.47/set – Jesse Elser, Left Side
Blocks: 1.42/set – Pearce Eshenko, Middle
Aces: 0.50/set – Jesse Elser, Left Side
Assists: 10.29 – Derek Epp, Setter
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Cory Schoenherr / Middle / 1st / Waterloo, ON / Bluevale
Liam Remple / Outside / 1st / Vernon, BC / Vernon Christian
Anselm Rein / Setter / 1st / Erfurt, Germany / Blues Volley Gotha
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Pearce Eshenko / Middle / Banff, AB / 5
Eric Loeppky / Left Side / Steinbach, MB / 4
Jacob Kern / Right Side / Edmonton / 5
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.
-TW-
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