For Release: March 10, 2010

Kamloops, BC—Gord Perrin and Kevin Tillie have gone where no Thompson Rivers University WolfPack athlete has gone before. Perrin was named to the CIS All Canadian First All-Star team while Tillie was named CIS Rookie of the Year. It is the first time in the five year history of the WolfPack being associated with the CIS that an athlete from the program has won the honor.
Perrin (3rd year, outside hitter, Creston, BC) was second in the CIS in kills per set (4.68), third in the CIS in kills (309), second in the nation in total attacks (773) and third in the country in points (342).
“This honor is certainly up there,” said Perrin at the awards ceremony, which took place prior to TRU hosting the 2010 CIS Men’s National Volleyball Championships. “ It is a memorable one for sure. It’s the first time that I’ve made the first all star team.”
He admits that his goal is to get better every year. “ I just try to excel when I’m out there. I think I am more mature. You build a home here in Kamloops and get to know your teammates. I just feel more comfortable.” Perrin agrees that his appointment last summer as a Junior National Team captain was a step in his maturing as a player and as a person.
“Gord Perrin was definitely our MVP for the first half of year,” said WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly. “ I look back at our UBC weekend (where the WolfPack swept). They had beat us twice in the pre season and we beat them 3-0,3-0 to turn our season around. Gord was instrumental in that. The first night he had 19 kills with 0 errors. Whenever we needed a tough kill or a tough point, Gord provided that for us. I’m so proud that Gord is the first ever ‘first team All Canadian.”
Tillie became the first WolfPack to be named CIS Rookie of the Year. This is his second honour in as man y weeks—being named a 2nd team Canada West All star and Canada West Rookie of the Year.
“I think we have a great program here at TRU,” he said. “I have to thank Pat (Hennelly) and my teammates for making me fell so at home here.” Tillie, a first year left side from Cagnes Sur Mer France had 250 kills in 67 sets (seventh best in the CIS). He had the fourth best service aces percentage (0.45) and 129 digs which was 25 th best in the CIS. Tillie also added 30 service aces which was the third best in the country.
“The CIS is just as tough as the league I played in last year,” Tillie said when asked to compare Canadian University Volleyball to that of the French Junior National League. “ Last week in the final four was pretty tough. There are great players who play in Canada.”
“Tillie had a great year,” said Hennelly. “ He got stronger as the year went on. He acclimatized really fast. The first semester he had a 3.6 g.p.a. and really melded with the rest of the team. It is very tough on any young kid to go to a new place. When you change cultures and languages it makes it even harder. He had an incredible performance against the University of Calgary in the regular season and played very well against Pepperdine at our January tournament. “
Perrin, Tillie and the rest of the WolfPack will be back on the court Thursday as they prepare for what will definitely be their toughest challenge of the year: playing two time defending national champion Alberta Golden Bears in the first round of the CIS Nationals. Match time is 6 pm Friday (Mar 12) at the Tournament Capital Center.
TRU WOLFPACK ATHLETICS: PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2010 CIS MENS NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS-MARCH 12-14 TH TOURNAMENT CAPITAL CENTER, KAMLOOPS BC.
WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index http://francais.cis-sic.ca/championships/mvball/index