By Rob Schellenberg

Champions win championships, and the 2010 Briercrest College and Seminary Clippers volleyball team wants nothing less. With eight returning players and five experienced rookies on this year’s team, the Clippers will be deeper than any recent team. The returning vets include Pablo Acuna, James Dempsey, Joel Dyck, Zac Ens, Trevor Klassen, Colin Kubinec, Scott Lesher, and Cody Quiring. The incoming rookies are Blake Proudfoot, Carter Reimer, Clinton Siebert, Carl Unger, and Josh Wendel.

Proudfoot is a fifth-year player who brings experience to the middle position, Reimer is a setter who had a stellar club year in Calgary, Siebert was a right side hitter on Alberta’s 4A provincial championship team, and Unger is a transfer player who competed for Capilano University last year. Wendel was the athlete of the year at Caronport High School.

Scott Lesher, captain of last year’s squad, was excited with the quality of play during the first weekend of practices and scrimmages June 23-25.

“It was great; you can tell that our team is going to be really good already,” he said. “The guys coming in are all naturally athletic and it will be a good year because they are bringing a lot to help the guys that are already on the court.”

Joel Dyck agreed, saying “it didn’t really feel like they were new guys.” The rookies fit right in, but both Dyck and Lesher know that they are all looking for court time.

“The vets can’t get too comfortable in their positions because they know they’re going to have the guys on the other team pushing us and I think it will ultimately be better for the team,” Dyck said. “We’ll be a stronger team because of it.”

Lesher is also thankful for the increased depth.

“Personally, on the floor its nice where you have so many good guys,” he said. “It’s not like I have more to do than any other guy. We have a deep team, and so we can all rely on each other. It takes the pressure off each one of us because we can trust each other.”

It will also give Coach Nigel Mullan lots of options when he needs to change strategy during a game.

“There are so many guys that can come on at any time and just add a new look,” Dyck said.

The player’s goals for this team are very high.

“I’m expecting great things—I think we should be able to win provincials. I am kind of expecting to win provincials with this group of guys. We’re a really deep team and, if we play confident like we should, we will win,” Lesher said.  

Dyck agreed, saying that his goal is “to win the ACAC and CCAA championships for sure, and I know we can do it.” “We’re just a different team. You can tell the confidence even this early. Last year I think we were happy with finishing second, but this year I think the bar is even higher. We just have this new expectation for this program, which is good.”

The players aren’t the only ones with high expectations for this team.

“My expectations line up with the team’s I am sure,” Mullan said. “Our purpose is to win the ACAC and CCAA championships.”