LANGLEY, B.C. – The defending national champion Trinity Western University men’s volleyball team is back this season and set to launch a 2019-20 campaign that has the makings of a special year, as a talent-laden Spartans team embarks upon its title defence with a road trip to play the University of Alberta this weekend.
With the core of last year’s team returning, the Spartans, who have won three of the last four U SPORTS championships, have the look of yet another title-chasing side. With unparalleled depth throughout their lineup, TWU will once again have eyes on capturing both the Canada West and U SPORTS banners.
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.
COACH BEN JOSEPHSON
“This is a deep and talented group. We have really good players coming off the bench in every position, so it’s making practices incredible and giving us great competition within the team. We can do a lot of really fun stuff in practice. The level is really high and the intensity is great. It’s great that we can absorb some injuries, but even more importantly, it’s great that we can hold a training level that very few teams I’ve ever had can hold.
“I think we’ll be in the mix again. I think we have the personnel to be competitive at the top conference. Every season has its own story, with injuries and performances and bumps in the road, but I think we have the talent and experience and toughness to be in that top group at the end of the season.”
OUTSIDE HITTERS
With veteran stars Eric Loeppky (Steinbach, Man.) and Jacob Kern (Edmonton) – both of whom were U SPORTS All-Canadians last year – joined by second-year studs Jesse Elser (Calgary) and Brodie Hofer (Langley), the Spartans have as good of an outside hitting quartet as any in the country. Loeppky played with Canada’s senior team throughout the summer, including in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League, while both Elser and Hofer played with Canada’s U21 team. Last year, Loeppky led Canada West in hitting percentage (.374) and aces (0.58), while Kern was second in the conference in aces (0.54) and seventh in hitting percentage (.285). Hofer was on the last years Canada West All-Rookie Team and has already shown his big-game talent, earning nine kills in the U SPORTS championship final. Meanwhile, Elser, who was named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team in 2017-18, returns to the floor after missing all of last year with an injury.
SETTERS
The Spartans setting is once again in great hands, with third-year Derek Epp (Saskatoon) and first-year Matias Elser (Calgary) providing one of the best one-two punches in U SPORTS. Most recently, Epp is coming off an appearance with Canada’s senior team at the FIVB World Cup in Japan, having joined the team as an injury replacement midway through the tournament. Epp had an outstanding 2018-19 season in which he averaged 9.74 assists/set while leading TWU to the national title. The Spartans back-up option is also amongst the best in the country, with rookie Matias Elser (Calgary) joining TWU this year after representing Canada with the U21 team at the World Championship this past summer.
MIDDLES
The middle position has long been a strength for the Spartans and this year is no different. While the loss of graduated veteran Aaron Boettcher will certainly be felt, TWU will look to two of the best in Canada to patrol the middle, with Pearce Eshenko (Banff, Alta.) and Jackson Howe (Calgary) set to lead TWU’s infamous block. In 2018-19, Eshenko averaged 1.02 blocks per set and Howe averaged 1.01 blocks per set and both players have experience playing with Canada at the senior level. Coming in as a third option in the middle is transfer Jordan Schnitzer (Langley), who returns to his hometown after spending two years at Briercrest College. The third-year middle has already shown he’ll be a valuable piece for TWU this year.
LIBEROS
With the legendary leader Carter Bergen now graduated, it will be Colton Loewen (Abbotsford, B.C.) taking over libero duties in 2019-20. The graduate of MEI has been waiting in the wings behind Bergen, playing largely as a serving sub in his first two seasons, but now the third-year Loewen will be the man defensively.
BY THE NUMBERS
2018-19 CW regular season record: 18-4, 2nd
2018-19 CW post-season record: 4-2, 2nd (1st)
Head coach: Ben Josephson (13th season) / 193-61 Career CW reg. season record
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2018 / 5
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2019 / 6
2018-19 CW regular season ranks:
Points per set: 16.7, 2nd
Kills per set: 12.37, 3rd
Hitting percentage: .325, 2nd
2018-19 CW regular season leaders:
Kills: 3.59 – Eric Loeppky, Left Side
Digs: 2.09 – Carter Bergen, Libero
Blocks: 1.20 – Aaron Boettcher, Middle
Aces: 0.58 – Eric Loeppky, Left Side
Assists: 9.74 – Derek Epp, Setter
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Mathias Elser / S / 1st / Calgary, AB / Dr. EP Scarlett
Henry Rempel / OH / 1st / Swift Current, SK / Swift Current Comprehensive
Jordan Schnitzer / M / 3rd / Langley, BC / Briercrest
Isaiah Olfert / OH / 1st / Winnipeg, MB / Dakota Collegiate
Linden Bontkes / M / 4th / Langley, BC / Redeemer
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Ben Lieuwen / OH / Abbotsford, BC / 5
Carter Bergen / L / Winnipeg, MB / 5
Aaron Boettcher / M / Surrey, BC / 5
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field, as well as women’s rugby sevens. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men’s hockey and as an independent team in men’s rugby. The men’s and women’s hockey programs will begin playing in Canada West and U SPORTS in 2020-21. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.
[SOURCE: Trinity Western University]