Where are the Spartans?

While the summer is often a slow time for Spartan Men's Volleyballers, this summer is anything but that. The "off season" is a time for rest and relaxation. A time to enjoy the sun and lack of homework, lift weights and hit the beach, both volleyball and other. This really is not the case for many of the Spartans past, present and future.

Gatineau, Quebec: National Team Training Centre

Marc Howatson and Rudy Verhoeff spent half of May and all of June in Quebec training with the National B team. They were under the tutalidge of Larry McKay (Univ. of Winnipeg) and were exposed to a high level of training that they will bring back to the Spartans this coming fall. Joining the current Spartan duo was past Spartan legend Josh Howatson who, coming off another stellar professional campaign in Spain, was selected to the National A team. The Senior team is preparing this summer for the World Championships coming up this fall in Italy.

Toronto, ON: Beach National Team Training Centre

Summer means beach season and more and more Spartans are spending a good chunk of their training time in the summers working on their beach volleyball game...and tan. This summer current Spartan and 2010 CIS National Championship All Star Steve Marshall has been selected to the Beach National Team. He will be teaming up with former Alberta Bear (hard to write) stand out Ben Saxton. Marsh and Ben will be headed overseas to compete at a number of FIVB Beach Tour events. Also in TO this summer is past CIS All Canadian Chaim Schalk who teams with Martin Reader on the Beach National Team. Chaim and Martin have been playing in a few FIVB events already this summer adn will be attending a number more as the summer progresses. The third Spartan selected to the Beach National Team this summer is incoming freshman Nick Del Bianco who will be attending the U20 World Championships in Portugal this summer with partner Garret May.

Winnipeg, MB: Team Manitoba U19 Training Camp
Another member of the incoming class of 2010 Devyn Plett is setting for the Team Manitoba U19 Provincial Team this summer. They will be competing in Toronto for teh National Team Challenge Cup July 22-25. While its hard for a BC'er to cheer for Toba any team with a Spartan on it is worth rooting for...a little bit.

Calgary, AB: Team Alberta U19 Training Camp
The third of the incoming class to play this summer is Branden Schmidt who joins current Spartan Lucas Van Berkel on the Alberta U19 Provincial Team. Surrounded by Bears, Dinos, Cougars and Trojans they are trying to raise the level to their usual standards from back in Langley (tongue in cheek). The experience of playing a number of other great players is a great development opportunity for these young Spartans as they continue to prepare for their opportunity to play in Langley day in and day out.

Victoria, BC: Team BC U19 Training Camp
Finally at home on the west coast the final two Spartans playing this summer are Brad Kufske and Derek Thiessen who are members of the U19 Team BC Provincial Team that will compete against their transplanted teammates in Toronto at the NTCC Championship. While the smack talk is flying by way of text message on a daily basis between Winnipeg, Calgary and Victoria it is the BC boys who have the loyalty of the Faithful Nation. Being a BC institution loyal Spartan fans will have to cheer the BC team in Toronto...while rooting for Devyn, Lucas and Branden. The NTCC tournament will also be the tryout camp for the Canadian Junior National Team that hosts the NORCECA Championship on route to qualifying for next year's World U20 Championships.

It is an exciting summer for the Spartans, past present and future. As usual they will bleed Blue and represent the Spartan way as they always do.

Proud as always...Go Spartans!!!