Meet the 2010-2011 Spartans

With the 2010-11 preseason just over a month away from beginning it would be a great time to briefly profile the Spartans that will be donning the blue & white this season.

#1 - Jarrod Offereins
Hometown: Calgary, AB
High School: Calgary Christian
Club Team: Elite West
Eligibility: 3rd
Position: Libero
Plus Skills: Reception & Back Court Setting
What to Look For: this season Jarrod will see a lot more defensive funnels towards him, meaning the block will be trying to funnel more attacks at Jarrod. Look for Jarrod to make some noise in the Canada West leader board in the Digs per game category.

#2 - Mikiah Schalk
Hometown: Red Deer, AB
High School: Central Alberta Christian
Club Team: Red Deer Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 5th
Position: Outside Hitter
Plus Skills: Attack Power & Serve
What to Look For: heading into his last year with the Spartans look for Mikiah to make an impact competing for the starting right side position with the departure of Paul Lindemulder and Steve Marshall. Gifted with an explosive shoulder and devastating serve Mikiah provides the Spartans with some much needed fire power from the wing attacking positions.

#3 - Devyn Plett
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
High School: Mennonite Bretheren Collegiate Institute (MBCI)
Club Team: Strike Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 1st
Position: Setter
Plus Skills: Setting
What to Look For: coming off the greatest senior high school season possible in which Devyn was named Manitoba High School Co-Player of the Year. Provincial High School Champion & MVP. Manitoba Provincial & National Club Champion plus MVP in the national tournament, and to wrap it up he is just coming off a National Team Challenge Cup (NTCC) championship with Team Manitoba U19. Tagged as the future setter of the Spartans he will take the vacant role of second setter to three year starter Ben Ball as he prepares to take the helm of the offense in a couple years' time. In the meantime Devyn will be utilized in a defensive role off the bench and in double switches allowing the Spartans to keep three attackers in the front row at all times.

#4 - Marc Howatson
Hometown: Victoria, BC
High School: Oak Bay High School
Club Team: Victoria Secret
Eligibility: 4th
Position: Left Side
Plus Skills: Serve Reception, Size & Wing Attacking
What to Look For: coming off a CIS National Championship All Star and spending 6 weeks with the National 'B' Team much will be required from Marc this coming season. As the only returning wing hitter starter from last year's Silver Medal Team, Marc will be looked to as a "go to" attacker in the offense. He will continue to build his reputation as the best left side passer in the Canada West conference and add an attacking prowess equivalent to his passing prestige.

#5 - Josh Doornenbal
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
High School: Edmonton Christian High School
Club Team: FOG Volleyball Club (Friends of George)
Eligibility: 5th
Position: Middle Blocker
Plus Skills: Blocking, Middle Attacking & Jump
What to Look For: as a 4 year starter Josh will be looked to for leadership and stability on a young Spartan club. He is the most experienced player on the 10-11 roster. Josh will be incorporated into the offense in a bigger way this fall as the Spartans will use his wing attacking ability in addition to his middle attacking expertise. Josh will have his opportunity to have increased offensive volume in order to improve an already potent Spartan offensive attack.

#6 - Dan Jansen VanDoorn
Hometown: Langley, BC
High School: Langley Christian High School
Club Team: Fraser Valley Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 3rd
Position: Middle Blocker
Plus Skills: Blocking & Size
What to Look For: look for Dan to make a major push at a starting spot this season. With two starting spots from last season left open Dan is one of the front runners to occupy one of those positions. Blessed with size and length Dan is a devastating blocker, especially in two ball blocking scenarios. Dan will have his opportunities to blot out the sun for opposing attackers this season as he continues to improve his attacking prowess.

#7 - John Wiebe
Hometown: Abbotsford, BC
High School: Mennonite Educational Institute (MEI)
Club Team: Fraser Valley Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 3rd
Position: Libero
Plus Skills: Digging & Speed
What to Look For: John is an extremely hard working athlete. He is very dedicated to improving his game and body. He is one of the most physical athletes on the Spartan roster. Though just 6'1 he has one of the highest verticles and tests as one of the fastest players. These skills combined with a much improved passing touch from last season will aid him as he competes for the starting libero position with Jarrod Offereins. Starter or not, John will provide passing and defensive stability off the bench for some of the young passers on the court.

#9 - Brad Kufske
Hometown: Abbotsford, BC
High School: Yale High School
Club Team: Fraser Valley Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 2nd
Position: Outside Hitter
Plus Skills: Attack Power, Strength & Jump
What to Look For: Brad is looked to this fall as the heir apparent to the left side hole left by Steve Marshall's absence. Brad had a great freshman season and saw a lot of key time in the season, playoffs and national tournament. This summer an ankle injury cut his Junior National Team bid short but his game was clearly good enough to be considered one of this country's elite young left side players. He is an extremely powerful athlete with great attacking potential. His passing is improving by the week and he will have a huge opportunity and shoes to fill this season.

#11 - Rudy Verhoeff
Hometown: Calgary, AB
High School: Calgary Christian High School
Club Team: CalAir Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 4th
Position: Middle Blocker
Plus Skills: Blocking & Middle Attacking
What to Look For: as the emotional leader of the Spartans, Rudy will need to continue that role and expand upon it in other leadership areas. If setter Ben Ball is the engine that drives the machine, Verhoeff is the wheels that keep it on track. Rudy will be put into a diverse role this season taking advantage of all of his talents. He is the model of a universal player in that he can play nearly every position at a high level. That versatility will be utilized this season as the Spartans hope to build upon last seasons performance.

#12 - Lucas Van Berkel
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
High School: Edmonton Christian High School
Club Team: Northern Alberta Volleyball Club (NAVC)
Eligibility: 2nd
Position: Middle Blocker
Plus Skills: Blocking & Size
What to Look For: Lucas will be in the mix to fill a starting role this season when the Spartans begin training camp. Knee surgery ended Lucas' season in January as he was making great strides to contribute in the playoff stretch. This summer Lucas had the opportunity to play with Team Alberta at the NTCC where he and his teammates finished second to Plett's Manitoba team. Following the tournament Lucas was selected to the Junior National Team and will continue to train through August and competing in the NORCECA championships in late August. This summer's training is just what Lucas needed to get caught up to lost training time in the spring semester. Look for Lucas to use his size and blocking ability to be a game changer for the Spartans.

#13 - Branden Schmidt
Hometown: Calgary, AB
High School: Centennial High School
Club Team: Canuck Stuff Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 1st
Position: Middle Blocker / Right Side
Plus Skills: Arm speed, foot speed & blocking
What to Look For: After competing this summer with Team Alberta at the NTCC tournament Branden was selected to the Junior National Team. For those who know Branden this was not much of a surprise. What was a surprise was the position he was selected as. Branden has played most of his career as a Middle Blocker but this summer he was selected to the Alberta Team as a right side. He played so well that he also got the nod to the Junior National Team as a right side as well, after only three weeks of right side training. The added training as a right side will aid him as he makes the move to the right side perminantly(?) with the Spartans. Look for Branden to provide depth on the right side this season as he competes with the older Spartans for the starting job.

#14 - Ben Ball
Hometown: Abbotsford, BC
High School: Mennonite Educational Institute
Club Team: Fraser Valley Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 4th
Position: Setter
Plus Skills: Setting & Athleticism
What to Look For: Arguably the Spartans' best player, Ben led the Spartan offense to the Canada West kill championship during season play. The Spartan offense is very dynamic with a number of patterns and layers to it. None of this would be possible without the special abilities of Ball. His ability to make a variety of sets from a variety of postions on the court make him the Spartans most vital asset. Look for Ben to continue to develop as a game planner and match manager from the setting postition. The tools are all there, now it is a matter of putting the whole puzzle together...this season.

#15 - Derek Thiessen
Hometown: Coquitlam, BC
High School: Centennial High School
Club Team: Fraser Valley Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 1st (Red Shirt 09-10)
Position: Outside Hitter
Plus Skills: Attack Power & Jump
What to Look For: after missing most of the 2009-2010 campaign coming off ACL (knee) surgery Derek is looking to make a splash in his first year of eligibility. As one of BC's best high school players in his senior year, Derek has trained hard to regain that form and make up for lost time as he bridges the gap between high school and CIS volleyball. Gifted with a powerful shoulder and jumping ability Derek could be a great offensive threat in the Spartan offense. He spent this past summer playing with Team BC at the NTCC tournament where he received invaluable training and match experience that will lead him into this fall's training camp. Look for Derek to provide valuable attacking power off the bench in a double sub role as he continues to find his rhythm at the CIS level.

#16 - Micah Jansen Van Doorn
Hometown: Langley, BC
High School: Langley Christian High School
Club Team: Fraser Valley Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 1st
Position: Setter
Plus Skills: Setting & Size
What to Look For: Micah heads into the 2010-11 season as the team's third setter but he is more than capable and has the tools to make a push towards a bigger role. He is a big setter at 6'5 and has a great natural release. With more training on and off court look for Micah to turn some of that size into a valuable weapon in the Spartan offense.

#18 - Nick Del Bianco
Hometown: Langley, BC
High School: Fleetwood Park High School
Club Team: Fraser Valley Volleyball Club
Eligibility: 1st
Position: Left Side
Plus Skills: Ball control & athleticism
What to Look For: Nick was named BC High School Player of the Year this past season as he led his team to the Provincial Championship. Besides from being the top Left Side player in the country this past season he is also a Canadian National Beach Team member. He recently competed in the U19 World Beach Volleyball Championships in Portugal where he and his partner finished 4th...in the planet. An amazing accomplishment and that same high end potential he shows on the beach is exceeded by his potential on the hard court. Look for Nick to compete for a starting position this season. Though just a freshman he possesses the maturity, skill level and physicality to play immediately in the CIS.

Go Spartans...Long Live the Faithful!!!