LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western’s women’s volleyball team is once again on the international stage, as Spartans Hilary Howe (Calgary) and Brie King (Langley), alums Alicia Perrin (Creston, B.C.) and Kristen Moncks (Standard, Alta.), as well as TWU men’s volleyball coach Ben Josephson, are representing Canada at the NORCECA Women’s Volleyball Continental Championship in Puerto Rico (Oct. 8-13).
The opportunity for the Spartans duo of Howe and King comes after impressive summer performances with the Canadian national side. The Spartan pair both represented Canada on multiple occasions this summer, with Howe donning the Maple Leaf at the Summer Universiade, the Pan American Games and NORCECA Champions Cup and King playing with Canada at the Pan Am Cup, the Intercontinental Olympic Volleyball Qualification tournament and the NORCECA Champions Cup. Perrin and Moncks had a similarly busy schedule, with both playing in the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup, the Pan Am Cup, the Olympic Volleyball Qualification tournament and the NORCECA Champions Cup and Moncks also competing in the Pan Am Games.
“Having four players with Canada, including two current players says a lot for the quality of people that we have here at TWU,” said Spartans coach Ryan Hofer. “They’re not graduating burnt out and ready to move on, but instead they’re actually excited and passionate to pursue that next level – and they have the skill level to play at that high level. And to be so close in proximity, with the Canadian team training in Richmond, Canada being able to come and access us is a huge benefit.”
For Howe, who will return to the Spartans following the Continental Championship, the opportunity has her playing alongside Canada’s best, joining a group of players who will largely make up the squad that will eventually look to qualify for the Olympics in January 2020.
“I’m really excited that this opportunity came about,” Howe said. “It’s obviously amazing to be part of this team and because we run a similar style at TWU to what Canada does, it’s made for an easier transition. Ryan has been amazing in allowing for me to take advantage of opportunities like this and of course he really encourages us to join Team Canada whenever something like this comes up.”
Hofer said: “Hillary worked hard all summer. She maybe had four days off all summer, going to now four competitions. She is a great athlete who’s playing really well, and it works well for her to be able to position herself to play with Canada again. I know this is an incredible opportunity for her. Team Canada is calling and I want to try and answer that call when they start knocking on our door.”
For King, who will transition to the professional game for the 2019-20 season, having recently signed a contract with DSC Volleyball Damen in Dresden, Germany, she has continued to rise within Volleyball Canada ranks and has become a key member of the senior side.
“I want to really contribute to Team Canada and see how far we can go,” King said. “This summer has been crazy. And now playing professionally and playing regularly with Canada has been incredible. Everyone at TWU has been so supportive of me going to Germany and playing with Canada. I definitely still feel shocked that this has all happened, but now I feel like I have a responsibility to make sure I’m as ready as I can possibly be for the Olympic qualifier.”
Hofer said: “Brie’s growth as a setter has been on a steep curve and a lot of credit goes to her motivation and commitment to getting better. When she had the opportunity to try out for Canada, she did everything that she could to position herself well. One of the things that we, at TWU, take pride in is that we move the same way that the national team wants them to move. So I believe she had a distinct advantage going into that tryout camp earlier this summer. She’s a fierce competitor and a gifted athlete. She saw something that she was going to gun for, and she put everything into it to succeed.”
In Canada’s tournament opener at the NORCECA Championship, King started all four sets, finishing with 27 running sets, as she helped lead her team to a four-set victory.
In Canada’s second match, Howe started two of the three sets for Canada against Costa Rica, finishing third among Canadian scorers, with 10 points in a 3-0 win.
Canada’s NORCECA Championship Roster
#1 Jessie Niles, Turner Valley, AB
#3 Kiera Van Ryk, Surrey, BC
#4 Kyla Richey (C), Roberts Creek, BC
#5 Danielle Smith, Beaverlodge, AB
#8 Alicia Ogoms, Winnipeg, MB
#9 Alexa Gray, Calgary, AB
#12 Jennifer Cross, Scarborough, ON
#13 Brie King, Langley, BC
#14 Hilary Howe, Calgary, AB
#16 Shainah Joseph, Ottawa, ON
#17 Kristen Moncks, Standard, AB
#19 Marie-Alex Bélanger, Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, QC
#20 Alicia Perrin, Creston, BC
#23 Emily Maglio, Coquitlam, BC
Staff:
Head Coach: Ben Josephson
Assistant Coach: Joseph Trinsey
Assistant Coach: Shannon Winzer
Team Manager: Cody Piwowar-Desilets
Physiotherapist: Fraser Perry
Statistician: Christophe Elek
Tournament Schedule
Web stream: https://www.internetv.tv/
About TWU
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 10 sports in the Canada West conference, including women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men’s hockey. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships, 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.
[SOURCE: Trinity Western University]