The Trinity Western Spartans men's volleyball team is a university varsity volleyball program in Canada that represents Trinity Western University, competing in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association of U Sports.[1][2] Based out of Langley, British Columbia, the Spartans play their home games at the Langley Events Centre, a multi-sport facility close to the main campus. Led by then head coach Ron Pike, the Spartans won their first ever National Championship in 2006, defeating the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the final by a score of 3–0. Since then, the Spartans have won six more championships, for a total of seven, hoisting the Tantramar Trophy again in 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2023. The Spartans were led by head coach Ben Josephson from 2007 to 2022 before he took over as the head coach for Canada's men's volleyball program. Adam Schriemer is now the head coach. In the Canada West conference, the Spartans have won the league title seven times, taking the conference championship in 2007, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
History
Ron Pike era
From 1999 to 2007, Ron Pike led the Spartans men's volleyball team into a new era of competition, as Trinity Western University joined the Canada West conference in 1999. Pike led the program to their first ever post-season berth in 2002, and the program's first ever post-season series win in 2004. That same year, 2003–04, the Spartans earned their first ever national championship berth and went on to win the bronze medal at the national tournament. The following season, Pike led the Spartans to their first national championship final, eventually losing to the Alberta Golden Bears. The following season, 2005–06, the Spartans won the men's volleyball program's first ever National Championship, beating Alberta in straight sets.[3]
During his eight seasons of coaching in Canada West, Pike amassed a total record of 102–92, winning four Canada West medals and three national championship medals.
On two occasions, athletes under Ron Pike were nominated for the BLG Award (now known as the Lieutenant Governor Athletic Award) as the top male athlete across all Canadian university sports. Chris Meehan was nominated in 2005-2006 and Josh Howatson was nominated in 2006–07.[4] Howatson would go on to win the BLG award, the school's first ever recipient of this honour. That season, Howatson also captured the program's first ever National Player of the Year award.[4]
Ben Josephson era
TWU crowned the 2019 National Champions
Ben Josephson was the Spartans head coach from 2007 to 2022, after being an assistant coach from 2004 to 2007. Building upon the championship foundation laid by Ron Pike, Josephson took the program to new heights as he guided TWU to five national championships, winning in 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2019. Josephson has also led the Spartans to six Canada West championships, winning in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022, which includes TWU's current run of 10 straight appearances in the conference final.
During Josephson's tenure, the program produced six U Sports Player of the Year award winners, including Ben Ball (2011–12), Nick Del Bianco (2014–15), Ryan Sclater (2016–17), Adam Schriemer (2016–17), Eric Loeppky (2019–20) and Derek Epp (2021-22).[5][6][7][8][9][10] The Spartans have also had two winners of the U Sports Rookie of the Year award, with Adam Schriemer winning in 2013–14 and Eric Loeppky winning in 2016–17.[11][12] With Josephson at the helm, the Spartans had three players nominated for the BLG Award, with Ben Ball nominated in 2011–2012, Ryan Sclater nominated in 2016–17 and Derek Epp nominated in 2021-22.[4] The program has also produced six Olympians, as men's volleyball alumni Rudy Verhoeff, Steve Marshall, Daniel Jansen Van Doorn, Lucas Van Berkel and Ryan Sclater have represented Canada's national indoor volleyball team, and Chaim Schalk has represented Canada's beach volleyball team.[13]
Over his career with TWU, Josephson was named both the Canada West Coach of the Year and U Sports Coach of the Year four times, in 2011–12, 2013–14, 2019–2020 and 2021-22.[9] Before moving to the sidelines, Josephson was a stand-out player for the Spartans from 1998 to 2003 and, in his final year, earned the school's first ever All-Canadian award while, in that same year, also being named a Canada West First Team All-Star.
TWU competing at the 2011 FIVB Men's Club World Championships
The Spartans travelled to Doha, Qatar in 2011 after being invited to take part in the FIVB Men's Club World Championships. The Spartans were the North American representatives for the 2011 edition of the tournament. The annual tournament features many of the top professional club teams in the world. The Spartans finished that tournament with a 1–2 record, with a win over Iranian champion Paykan Tehran and losses to Russia's Zenit Kazan and Poland's KS Jastrzebski Wegiel.[14]
2012 Men's U23 Pan-American Volleyball Cup
In 2012, the Spartans were awarded the chance to represent Canada for the U23 Pan American Men's Volleyball Cup.[15] The matches were played at the Langley Events Centre, home of the Spartans. In round robin play, the Spartans finished with two wins and two losses. They finished fourth overall at the tournament, earning wins over the Dominican Republic and Mexico in round robin play before losing to Brazil in the semifinal, and the Dominican Republic in the bronze medal match.
2018 FISU America Games
The Spartans represented Canada again in 2018 at the inaugural FISU America Games in São Paulo, Brazil. The FISU America Games is a Pan American branch of the FISU World University Games. At the tournament, the Spartans finished with a 1–1 record in pool play. They lost 3–0 to Brazil in the semifinals but went on to beat Mexico 3–2 in the bronze medal match.[16]
2019 CAN-AM Holiday Showcase
In 2019, the Spartans competed in the inaugural CAN-AM Holiday Showcase. The CAN-AM Volleyball Holiday Showcase featured four Canadian teams, with the University of Alberta, McMaster University and Ryerson University joining TWU against then two-time defending NCAA champions Long Beach State University, as well as UCLA, Lewis University and Ohio State University. TWU went a perfect 3-0 during the course of the tournament, beating Long Beach State, UCLA, and Lewis.[17] The tournament was the first time since 2010 that the Spartans had played NCAA competition.
2021 Pan American Cup
The Spartans represented Canada at the 2021 Pan American Cup in the Dominican Republic, winning a silver medal. The Spartans finished with a 5-2 overall record, earning wins over Mexico, Dominican Republic (2), Puerto Rico and Suriname. TWU beat the Dominican Republic 3-0 in the semifinals before falling to Mexico in three sets in the gold medal match.
Venues and facilities
Fans storm the court at the LEC as TWU captures the 2011 National Championship in front of the home crowd
From 1999 to 2009 the Spartans competed at the David E. Enarson Gymnasium on the Trinity Westerns University campus. During the 2010 season, the Spartans and the Spartan Faithful transitioned to the Langley Events Centre (LEC), a multi-purpose facility in the Township of Langley, which is also the home of TWU's basketball, hockey, and rugby teams. Because of the Spartans success and passionate fan base, the LEC has become one of the hardest gyms in the conference for opposing teams to play in. The Spartans men's volleyball program has hosted the National Championship tournament once, in 2011, which was hosted at the Langley Events Centre. That year, the Spartans captured the program's second national championship.
Athletes from the men's volleyball program have been nominated on four separate occasions for the Lieutenant Governor Athletic Award (formerly known as the BLG Award), which is given annually to top male and female athletes across all Canadian universities. Chris Meehan was nominated in 2005–2006, Josh Howatson was nominated in 2006–07, Ben Ball was nominated in 2011–2012, Ryan Sclater was nominated in 2016–17 and Derek Epp was nominated in 2021-22.[18] Howatson went on to win the award as the top Male Athlete in Canada in 2006–07.[4]
Canada West regular season records
Year
Record
Finish
Conference Playoff Finish
1999-00
5-17
5th*
Did not Qualify
2000-01
6-16
5th*
Did not Qualify
2001-02
8-12
4th*
Quarterfinals
2002-03
9-11
5th
Quarterfinals
2003-04
12-8
4th
Quarterfinals
2004-05
14-6
2nd*
Silver
2005-06
16-4
2nd*
Silver
2006-07
13-5
3rd
Gold
2007-08
8-10
7th
Quarterfinals
2008-09
11-7
3rd
Quarterfinals
2009-10
11-7
4th
Silver
2010-11
13-5
3rd
Bronze
2011-12
19-1
1st
Gold
2012-13
16-6
2nd
Silver
2013-14
20-2
1st
Silver
2014-15
20-4
2nd
Silver
2015-16
14-10
6th
Gold
2016-17
21-3
2nd
Gold
2017-18
22-2
1st
Gold
2018-19
18-4
2nd
Silver
2019-20
20-2
1st
Gold
2021-22
15-1
1st
Gold
2022-23
18-6
3rd
Silver
*- denotes divisional finish
Postseason history
Canada West playoffs results
Since beginning Canada West competition in the 1999–2000 season, the program has medalled 15 times, including every year from 2010 to 2020, as well as reaching the conference championship match from 2012 to 2020. To date, the program has captured a total of six conference championships which includes: 2007, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.
Season
Round
Opponents
Result
Medal
2000
Did not Qualify
2001
Did not Qualify
2002
CW Quarterfinal Series
Calgary
L 2-0 (0-3, 0–3)
2003
CW Quarterfinal Series
Manitoba
L 2-0 (0-3, 1–3)
2004
CW Semifinal
CW Bronze Match
Manitoba
Alberta
L 3-1
L 3-0
Bronze
2005
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Winnipeg
Saskatchewan
Alberta
W 2-0 (3-0, 3–1)
W 3-2
L 3-1
Silver
2006
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Winnipeg
Saskatchewan
Alberta
W 2-0 (3-1, 3–1)
W 3-0
L 3-0
Silver
2007
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Saskatchewan
Winnipeg
UBC
W 2-0 (3-0, 3–0)
W 3-2
W 3-1
Gold
2008
CW Quarterfinal Series
Winnipeg
L 2-0 (0-3, 0–3)
2009
CW Quarterfinal Series
Thompson Rivers
L 2-1 (2-3, 3–1, 2–3)
2010
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Winnipeg
Calgary
Alberta
W 2-1 (3-1, 0–3, 3–0)
W 3-2
L 3-2
Silver
2011
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Bronze
Thompson Rivers
Calgary
Alberta
W 2-0 (3-0, 3–0)
L 3-2
W 3-1
Bronze
2012
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Calgary
Manitoba
W 3-0
W 3-2
Gold
2013
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Championship
Winnipeg
UBC
Brandon
W 2-0 (3-0, 3–2)
W 3-2
L 3-1
Silver
2014
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Brandon
Alberta
W 3-1
L 3-0
Silver
2015
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Thompson Rivers
Brandon
Alberta
W 2-0 (3-1, 3–0)
W 3-1
L 3-1
Silver
2016
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Calgary
Alberta
Saskatchewan
W 2-1 (1-3, 3–0, 3–1)
W 3-0
W 3-1
Gold
2017
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Winnipeg
Alberta
Manitoba
W 2-0 (3-0, 3–0)
W 3-2
W 3-2
Gold
2018
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal Series
CW Championship Final
Thompson Rivers
Winnipeg
Alberta
W 2-0 (3-1, 3–1)
W 2-0 (3-0, 3–0)
W 3-1
Gold
2019
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal Series
CW Championship Final
UBC
Thompson Rivers
Brandon
W 2-1 (3-0, 2–3, 3–0)
W 2-0 (3-1, 3–0)
L 3-2
Silver
2020
CW Quarterfinal Series
CW Semifinal Series
CW Championship Final
Mount Royal
Brandon
Alberta
W 2-0 (3-0, 3–0)
W 2-1 (3-0, 2–3, 3–1)
W 3-0
Gold
2022
CW Pool A, Game 1
CW Pool A, Game 4
Pool A, Game 6
Pool D, Game 1
Pool D, Game 3
CW Semifinal
CW Championship Final
Thompson Rivers
Mount Royal
Brandon
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Brandon
Alberta
W 3-0
W 3-0
W 3-2
W 3-0
W 3-0
W 3-0
W 3-1
Gold
U Sports Championship Tournament results
The men's volleyball program reached the national championship tournament for the first time in program history in 2004 where they earned the bronze medal. In total, the program has won 12 national tournament medals, which included a run of five straight years in which the Spartans won either a gold or silver medal (2015-2019). The program has captured the National Championship six times, including in 2006, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2019. Heading into the 2020 National Championship, the Spartans earned the number one seed having captured the Canada West Championship and a league-best record of 20–2, but were unable to compete for their fourth championship in five years when the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.[19]
Season
Round
Opponents
Result
Medal
2000
Did not Qualify
2001
Did not Qualify
2002
Did not Qualify
2003
Did not Qualify
2004
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Bronze
Laval
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
W 3-1
L 3-0
W 3-1
Bronze
2005
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Championship Final
York
Saskatchewan
Alberta
W 3-1
W 3-0
L 3-2
Silver
2006
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Championship Final
Queen's
Manitoba
Alberta
W 3-0
W 3-2
W 3-0
Gold
2007
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Bronze
McMaster
Alberta
UBC
W 3-2
L 3-2
W 3-0
Bronze
2008
Did not Qualify
2009
Did not Qualify
2010
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Championship Final
Queen's
Laval
Calgary
W 3-0
W 3-2
L 3-1
Silver
2011
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Championship Final
Alberta
Calgary
Brandon
W 3-2
W 3-2
W 3-0
Gold
2012
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Championship Final
Dalhousie
Queen's
Laval
W 3-0
W 3-0
W 3-1
Gold
2013
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Consolation Semifinal
CIS Consolation Final
Western
UNB
Alberta
L 3-2
W 3-2
L 3-1
2014
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Consolation Semifinal
CIS Consolation Final
Western
Calgary
Dalhousie
L 3-2
W 3-1
W 3-1
2015
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Championship Final
Laval
McMaster
Alberta
W 3-0
W 3-1
L 3-0
Silver
2016
CIS Quarterfinal
CIS Semifinal
CIS Championship Final
Ryerson
Alberta
McMaster
W 3-1
W 3-2
W 3-1
Gold
2017
U Sports Quarterfinal
U Sports Semifinal
U Sports Championship Final
Waterloo
McMaster
Alberta
W 3-0
W 3-1
W 3-1
Gold
2018
U Sports Quarterfinal
U Sports Semifinal
U Sports Championship Final
Windsor
McMaster
UBC
W 3-1
W 3-1
L 3-0
Silver
2019
U Sports Quarterfinal
U Sports Semifinal
U Sports Championship Final
McMaster
Laval
Brandon
W 3-1
W 3-2
W 3-0
Gold
2020
Cancelled (COVID-19)
2021
Cancelled (COVID-19)
2022
U Sports Quarterfinal
U Sports Semifinal
U Sports Championship Final
Manitoba
Sherbrooke
Alberta
W 3-0
W 3-0
L 3-1
Silver
Record vs. Canada West opponents
All-time series record includes conference matches and postseason results from 1999 to 2020.
Canada West Opponent
Overall Record
Conference Record
Alberta Golden Bears
30-57
13-39
Brandon Bobcats
24-15
18-10
Calgary Dinos
44-27
35-23
MacEwan Griffins
12-0
12-0
Manitoba Bisons
26-21
22-18
Mount Royal Cougars
19-4
14-2
Regina Cougars
37-1
37-1
Saskatchewan Huskies
37-19
32-14
Thompson Rivers Wolfpack
54-13
27-5
UBC Okanagan Heat
32-1
18-0
UBC Thunderbirds
52-23
40-16
Winnipeg Wesmen
41-18
30-12
Spartans representing Team Canada
MVB Alum Marshall, Sclater, Van Berkel and Jansen Van Doorn (left to right) representing Canada in 2020.
TWU has seen may athletes go on to compete for the senior national team, both in beach volleyball and indoor volleyball at several levels including the Canadian youth national team, junior national team, FISU Summer Games Team, senior national ‘B’ team, senior national team, and Canadian beach national team. The Spartans have also had four athletes compete at the Olympic Summer Games, with Daniel Jansen Van Doorn (indoor), Steven Marshall (indoor), Rudy Verhoeff (indoor), and Chaim Schalk (beach) representing Team Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics.[13]
