The Trinity Western Spartans are going for gold, and have booked their spot in the upcoming U Sport championships.
The men鈥檚 volleyball team made quick work of the Winnipeg Wesmen last week, winning 3-0 and 3-0 to take their Canada West semifinal series 2-0 at the 91原创 Events Centre.
And now it鈥檚 time to add some hardware to the trophy case.
鈥淣ow we get a chance to compete for the red banner and the blue banner, we are pumped about that,鈥� said TWU coach Ben Josephson. 鈥淭hat is what we set out to do at the beginning of the year and we are excited we get to do it.鈥�
The Spartans host the Alberta Golden Bears tomorrow (March 10) at the 91原创 Events Centre at 8 p.m. in the Canada West gold medal game. Both teams are already assured spots at the U Sport national championships in Hamilton later this month.
TWU is also the defending national champion and Josephson said the team views the pressure of being one of the premier programs as a positive.
鈥淲e talk about pressure being a privilege and a lot of reasons we all came to this program,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he reason they chose to be here is to get a chance to compete for those championships.鈥�
鈥淥n the one hand, yes it鈥檚 expectations. But on the other, we have what no one else has and that is such a privilege we want to carry with honour and privilege.
鈥淭his is what it takes to be No. 1 and we are going to act that way and look at it as a strength not a weakness and an advantage not a disadvantage, and as a privilege.鈥�
Friday鈥檚 clinching match saw the Spartans employ a balanced attack as Jesse Elser, who hit .700, and Eric Loeppky each had eight kills. Jacob Kern had six kills while Jackson Howe had five kills and seven blocks. Loeppky also had seven blocks.
Top honour for Schriemer
TWU setter Adam Schriemer was named the Canada West men鈥檚 player of the year. Schriemer concluded his five-year career fifth on the conference鈥檚 all-time assists list with 3,448 and had 920 assists this season, guiding the TWU offence to a conference-leading .311 hitting percentage.
鈥淎dam is the straw that stirs our drink,鈥� Ben Josephson said. 鈥淗e is our motor that drives the top-rated offence in U Sports and he has done it with largely a new lineup from the last two championships.
鈥淭he fact the Canada West coaches recognize that and honoured Adam with this award reflects the impact Adam has had in regards to our team鈥檚 success this season. This is a great individual award to receive as he leaves the program. But he will be the first to say that he is just doing his job to make our team better and ultimately that is why he is such a special player.鈥�
