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For Release: May 4, 2010
Kamloops, BC The success of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team in 2010-11 got a whole lot brighter. The WolfPack and head coach Pat Hennelly are pleased to announce the signing of 22 year old right side Ryan Talsma of Orono, Ontario. Talsma was a Canadian College Athletic Association All Canadian for three straight years (2007-10) with the Redeemer University College Royals.
Hennelly said due diligence in recruiting helped him land the 6'6" Talsma. "I contacted his coach at Redeemer and asked about whether Ryan would like to play CIS.," he said. "I knew he was an All Canadian and I was asking all the CCAA programs with quality players about transferring ."
Talsma helped lead Redeemer to a 13 and 3 record in 2009-10. He played in 16 Ontario College Athletic Association matches last season garnering 235 kills (average of 3.73 per game), 30 blocks, 35 service aces and had 79 digs. He averaged 4.76 points per game, those totals were third best in the OCAA. Hennelly sent alumni Brendan Barrett-Hamilton , who lives in Ontario to see him play. βHe has put up some good numbers," the WolfPack coach stated "He also had 36 kills against Mike Hammond (current WolfPack middle) and his team in the playoffs."
Talsma, who graduates from Redeemer with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and History plans to take a Post-Bach Diploma program specializing in New Venture Creation. "TRU could offer me a one year program which would help me specialize my Business Degree," he said. "Furthermore, Pat was willing to take me on even though I just have one year of eligibility left. After four years of playing in the CCAA, I want to experience the highest calibre of university volleyball that I could. I think I can learn a lot from playing in the CIS."
He believes playing in the CIS and Canada West will be a step up. "I think it will be a fairly big change, however being a student-athlete requires a lot of commitment and discipline anywhere that you go, so in that sense I feel as though I am prepared for it," Talsma, the OCAA men's volleyball player of the year in 2009-10 stated. "I believe that playing in the CIS will allow me to developmore as an athlete as well as an individual."
Hennelly has big plans for his newest addition: "I think Ryan will be a quality guy on and off the court.. We are looking for Ryan to bring some offense and blocking from the right side of the court."
That leadership is something Talsma believes he can help with. "In the past I have been a team member that is emotionally stable," he explains. "I am not the kind of player that gets overly emotionally charged, but I also do not get emotionally discouraged. In terms of a physical presence on the court, I hope that I can contribute some size and experience to the team, but we will have to wait and see to what extent."
He joins the WolfPack program at a good time says coach Hennelly. "With Robin Schoebel (4th year, outside hitter, Monaco) not returning next year due to graduation and knee problems, I knew we had to get a quality experienced guy on the right side. We have arguably the best one two punch on left side with Gord (Perrin, 3rd year, Creston, BC) and Kevin (Tillie, 1st year, Cagnes Sur Mer, France) and I wanted to get an offensive threat on the right side."
The newest member of the WolfPack can't wait to get to Kamloops to get started. "I have heard that TRU has a beautiful campus. I have heard that there is a phenomenal sense of community on the men's volleyball team, which makes me excited become a part of it."
Larry Read
Sports Information Officer
Thompson Rivers University
900 McGill Road, P.O. Box 3010
Kamloops, BC, Canada V2C 5N3
(250) 377-6117 (office)
(250) 371-5672 (fax)
lread@tru.ca
(250) 819-5255 (blackberry)
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