Trinity Western University women芒鈧劉s volleyball libero Kristen Moncks was officially named to Canada芒鈧劉s national B team on May 29.
From Standard, Alta., Moncks was among the nine athletes who were selected from the roughly 50 after a tryout was held in late May at the University of Manitoba芒鈧劉s Investor芒鈧劉s Group Athletic Centre.
This marks the first time Moncks has been named to a national team.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s pretty unreal to be named to a national side,芒鈧� said Moncks, who will be entering her fifth year of CIS eligibility this fall. 芒鈧揟his really gives me a chance to work on the technical side of the game that sometimes we aren芒鈧劉t able to cover as much during the season. With the chance to train every day, I芒鈧劉ll get those extra reps to work on the things I need to improve on.芒鈧�
The B squad will train this week with the A team, which features former TWU setter Kelci French and then, after a team the University of Central Florida arrived on May 31, they separated into two groups.
The B team trains in Winnipeg until June 21.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s awesome training with these girls because they芒鈧劉ve been here for a few years now., and I can learn from those girls just by watching how they train and what they do,芒鈧� Moncks said.
This past season with TWU, Moncks finished with a team-high 3.37 digs per set, which was good for sixth in Canada West.
She helped the Spartans to a Canada West bronze medal and a fifth place finish at the CIS national championship.
芒鈧揂fter last year芒鈧劉s tryout with the national team, Kristen was given a few things she needed to work on and she made improvements in a lot of those areas, so [the Canadian coaching staff] was very impressed with her,芒鈧� said Spartans coach Ryan Hofer. 芒鈧揟his past year we really saw her mature and become a leader in the back court. Her skills have continually gotten better and better. Her defence, her passing and her second ball setting have all improved and being named to the national team is her reward for the hard work she has put in.芒鈧�
In 2012/13, her first year with TWU after transferring from Medicine Hat College, Moncks was named Canada West Libero of the Year and finished the season with 3.26 digs per set, which had her second in the conference.
