LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western University Spartans men’s volleyball program will be well represented at the national level this year as two returning players and one highly-regarded former Spartan were named to Team Canada earlier this week.



Current Spartans Marc Howatson and Rudy Verhoeff made the national B team for 2010 while TWU alumnus Josh Howatson will suit up for Canada’s national senior team.



Both Marc and Verhoeff are returning to the national program after playing on the junior team for the past two summers. Last year, Verhoeff captained the junior team that finished 12th at the 2009 Junior World Championships in Pune, India.



“It’s really exciting to have both Marc and Rudy in Gatineau with the national B Team this summer,” said Spartans coach Ben Josephson. “The opportunity to train with Canada's best players and coaches will be great for them as they continue to develop and improve their game.



“One thing we talk about a lot is that in the pursuit of greatness you must put yourself beside greatness. With the talent and experience on the national B team Marc and Rudy will have lots of exposure to greatness. They are such disciplined trainers that I have no doubt they will make the most of this opportunity.”



The pair of heavy hitting Spartans was instrumental in helping lead TWU to a silver-medal at the 2010 CIS National Championship.



While the younger Howatson and Verhoeff will train with the B team, former Spartan Josh Howatson will follow up his Spanish league championship winning season with Unicaja Almeria by returning to Canada’s senior team.



The Victoria native – who was named tournament MVP en route to the Spanish title – didn’t play with Canada’s national side the last two years due to injuries but is expected to play a pivotal role in his return.



The senior team begins their international season in late May at the Pan American Cup in Puerto Rico. They will also be making a trip to Australia in June and host Cuba in exhibition matches later in the summer before going to Europe to prepare for the world championships in Italy in September.



-TW-



Scott Stewart MSS
Sports Information Director
Trinity Western University
604.513.2123
604.513.2065 fax
604.764.1533 cell
ssstew@twu.ca
gospartans.ca
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