Lancers Sign Outside Hitter Sven Trodel

Sven Trodel signing his LOI.

The University of Windsor and head Coach Shawn Lippert are pleased to announce the signing of 6’5”, all-star Sven Trodel of Lockerby Composite High School in Sudbury Ontario.

Sven helped his high school team achieve a bronze medal at this year’s OFSAA AAA Tournament where his team defeated Birchmont only missing the final by 4 points where powerhouse Regiopolis of Kingston took game five in the semi’s, 15-10.

“He is going to be a great addition to our Program.” Commented Coach Lippert. “He fits the style of player that we have been accustomed to. We like high flying agile outsides. He is coming into our Program well above 11 feet with an approach.”

Trodel accepting the NOSSA Trophy.

Trodel is also a track star where he is from. Recently at his city finals he triple jumped 13M 41 cm’s with little or no training.

“My coach signed me up.” Says Trodel. “I took a couple jumps and then did the final and won. I am pretty excited.”

In many respects his background is very similar to 2 time All Canadian Kyle Williamson. Williamson came from Essex High School and flew pretty much under radar for OUA recruiting. Trodel seems to fit these similar beginnings. They are both from rural backgrounds, have the same height and body type.

Trodel serving at City Championships.

“I have full confidence that Trodel can achieve the same accolades as Williamson.” Lippert says. “It comes down to the work ethic. Williamson’s effort is what separates him to date. Williamson’s determination to his craft isn’t a natural talent. He works hard and dedicates himself to his team.”

“I am excited to come to Windsor.” Says Trodel. “It seems to be one of those Programs on the verge of some great things. I am excited to be part of that.”

Trodel will attend the University in the Fall and will be studying Business.

Lancer Middle Blocker Kahelin Helps In Research Project

Volunteering with the Active Aging and Health Management Program, which serves seniors living with chronic diseases, has given kinesiology students Charles Kahelin and Rob Ward a better appreciation of the wide spectrum of mobility issues people must cope with.

The two are now helping with a research project on the location of emergency evacuation chairs in campus buildings.

Ward, just finished his third year studies in movement science, says that for a university geared to accessibility, the project is important.

“Besides the obvious issues of people in a wheelchair, there are gait issues, strength issues, stability issues, shortness of breath – all sorts of reasons why a person might need assistance in exiting a building during an emergency,” he says.

Charles Kahelin (Left) and Rob Ward (Right) ready for research.

Students working with kinesiology professor Dave Andrews are testing a model evacuation chair, assessing how it can be incorporated into the current fire warden emergency system. Besides his department, partners in the project include the Health and Safety Office, Campus Community Police, and the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility.

Kahelin, who will graduate with his BHK this June and commence an MHK in the fall, said he and Ward will assess buildings to determine how many evacuation chairs each needs, and recommend locations that will provide easy access — and a quick exit. They will prepare a report to inform decision-making by the Fire & Life Safety Committee.

“This is a practical project that meets a real need,” says Kahelin. “It is a great experience to be working on something we expect will be implemented to benefit people.”

The two will begin this week on the months-long process of auditing stairwells and hallways in Chrysler Hall, the CAW Student Centre, Leddy Library, the Human Kinetics Building, and the Toldo Health Education Centre. To allay the concerns of occupants, they will wear Kinesiology Research shirts while conducting their work.

Williamson Takes The WESPY

Kyle Williamson

It took 4 nominations and over 5 years and finally, Kyle Williamson is the 2011/12 WESPY Male Volleyball Athlete of the Year.

The 7th Annual Windsor Essex Sports Persons of the Year was held at the Caboto Club in Windsor last night. This prestigious event, the brain child of Dominic Papa, local sports legend.

The event celebrates the best in sports for the local area and gives the awards to deserving recipients. Also nominated in the same category was 5th year Libero Andrew Foster.

Williamson received the award for his 2010/11 break out season. In this one year he was named OUA All Star and Player of the Year. He was the first Lancer volleyball player to be named to the CIS All Canadian team. He then topped off the year by winning the Male Athlete of the Year for the University of Windsor.

Listen to Kyle win the award LIVE here in this clip.

Congratulations to both Williamson and Foster for their contributions to the Lancer Program and for the University of Windsor.

Laettner in jubilation after his game-winning shot over Kentucky in 1992.

Key note speak of this years event was Duke Legend Christian Laettner.

Video Featuring Will Alexander

Hard work with Will Alexander

Lippert Gold at Ontario Winter Games

Blanchette and MacIntye blocking.

The University of Windsor is pleased to announce that Coach Shawn Lippert was part of the Gold medal team that won the Ontario Winter Games in Boys Volleyball in Collingwood on March 12, 2012.  He was part of the Region 3 16U team made up of the best 16U’s from Guelph to Windsor encompassing all of Southwestern Ontario.

Coach Lippert was hired as the Athlete Development Program Boys Chair of the Ontario Volleyball Association for Region 3,  in November of last year.  His sole responsibility was to hire the Coaches for this team and select the players to compete for two boys teams.

“This was a great experience.” Comments Coach Lippert. “The whole process was extremely rewarding and the experience was more than I could have imagined.”

Lippert hired Clarke Mathany of Chatham and Cal Wigston out of Guelph Ontario as coaches.  Lippert chose to stay on the coaching staff as an assistant coach.

Region 3 White was fourth in pool play with a 3-2 record.

In the semifinals, Region 3 White beat top-seeded Region 5 Red from Toronto 26-24, 25-21.

The Finals saw the team match up to Ottawa’s Region 6.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in attendance because his son Ben Harper plays on the R6 squad.

Lippert and Matt Pe Benito of Riverside Rage

The Final saw Region 3 lose to R6, 25-19, setting up a tight second set.  Then Austin MacIntyre served 7 aces to lead the set in favour to R3, 25-11.  The final and deciding set saw R3 lead the entire set and put away R6 for the Gold, 15-6.

Coach Lippert has been part of 3 medal teams at this age group over the last 3 years.  In 2009 Region 3 won a gold medal at the Regional Games and in 2010 the team earned a silver medal at the Summer Games in Sudbury Ontario.

“I love the development model for this age group.” Says Lippert. “I can’t think of anything more rewarding watching young athletes meet their potential and realizing their greatness for their passion in sport.  It’s truly inspiring.”

Region 3 Gold Medal

Williamson All Canadian Two Years In A Row

Kyle Williamson a  fourth year outside hitter finished the season averaging 3.6 per game on 232.5 total points, 3.08 kills per game, 200 total points, and 1.66 digs per game, was named to the Second Team All Canadian.

Williamson is coming off a spectacular 2010-11 season that saw him named the OUA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year as well as become a CIS First Team All-Canadian for the first time in program history.

Kyle Williamson Promo.

The second CIS dream team for 2011-12 is comprised of AUS MVP Julio Fernandez, an outside hitter from UNB, as well as Laval setter Justin Boudreault, Calgary middle Graham Vigrass, Windsor outside Kyle Williamson, Dalhousie right side Kenneth Rauwerda, Manitoba left side Chris Voth and Western left side Garrett May.

Vigrass, last season’s CIS MVP, and Williamson were both first-team all-Canadians a year ago.

Lippert Puts Lancers On The Map

By Bob Duff    *Windsor Star

 

The ball had barely bounced up off the floor from the match-winning point when Windsor Lancers libero Andrew Foster punted it forcefully into the curtain at the north end of the St. Denis Centre.

“It hurts a lot,” Foster said after Windsor’s 25-18, 25-15, 25-21 straight-set loss to the Waterloo Warriors in Saturday’s OUA men’s volleyball quarter-finals. “It’s a pretty big shock.

“I can’t believe I’m not going to go to practice on Monday.”

Perspective is a difficult commodity to grasp on to in the moment.

As time passes, so will the pain, and these Lancers will come to realize they took another baby step forward this season, their third straight in the playoffs, and their first featuring a home playoff game.

“I’m proud that I was part of the first wave of players to change this program, to change the direction,” said Foster, a fifth-year player whose career concluded Saturday. “I know it’s headed in the right direction, and I know I’m going to be their No. 1 fan for the rest of my life.”

He’ll have some competition for that role, because thanks to coach Shawn Lippert and his liberal usage of social media, the Lancer men’s volleyball program is growing itself quite the following.

Saturday, a basketball-size crowd packed the St. Denis Centre.

“It’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever played before,” Foster said. “I have to give credit to some of the social media that coach has put out there for us.”

Head Coach Shawn Lippert

Lippert operates a YouTube channel with Lancer highlights, including a 45-minute documentary on the team. He sends their accomplishments out via the Twitterverse, growing a profile for a sport that certainly wouldn’t be classified as high profile.

“He sure does a lot more than what’s required in the job description,” second-year middle Adam Thompson said.

Just look at the Lancers’ roster and you can see the impact Lippert’s efforts have made. Foster calls Holland Landing, Ont. home. Thompson hails from Portage, Man.

“I came in and I felt very welcome,” Thompson said. “I felt like we could compete, and I could learn a lot from these guys.”

Five others are from outside Essex County, including first-year outside Timothee Jaumel of Montpellier, France.

“I guarantee Timo wouldn’t be here if Shawn didn’t have the YouTube channel,” Foster said. “There would be no way for him to even know that we existed.”

To Lippert, it’s just the way he views the world. You might recall the video of his surprise 2011 wedding proposal and ceremony with his wife Colleen, which went viral on the internet.

“I’m passionate about everything I do,” Lippert said. “There’s only one way to life your life, and that’s to the extreme.

“Volleyball is my passion and I want to share it. These guys on our team are great men. There isn’t a moment being around them that I don’t enjoy, and I want to share that with everybody else, so that they can experience what I’m experiencing.

“That’s just basically me, standing on top of the world saying, ‘Look at what we have. This is available to you if you want to come here.’”

The social media hits have definitely put the Lancer program on the map.

“We have other players in the league talking about it,” Foster said.

It didn’t bring the desired result Saturday, but it’s built hope for the future.

“I feel that something special is going to happen here in Windsor,” Thompson said.

When it does, you can be sure that Lippert will document it for all to see.

Watch Lancer Pride Here:

 

© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star

Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/technology/Duff+Lippert+puts+Lancers/6176494/story.html#ixzz1nK4MEaof

Lancers Lose in Quarters

In front of a record crowd for Men’s Volleyball at the St. Denis Centre, the Windsor Lancers men’s volleyball team was eliminated from post season play as they fell to the Waterloo Warriors in straight sets (18-25, 15-25, 21-25) in OUA quarter-final action.

The Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 set lead with a 25-18 win in the first. Waterloo took advantage of a number of errors by the Lancers early to gain the advantage. The home team had four service errors and eight attacking errors compared to just two and five for Waterloo.

The Warriors continued their strong play in the second set as they led from start to finish on the strength of four kills each from Fiodar Kazhamiaka and Cameron Wheelan. Waterloo claimed the second set 25-15.

Set three was the most tightly contested battle of the match as the Lancers battled hard to get back into the match. Using the support of a large and animated crowd at the St. Denis Centre, the home team held even with the Warriors throughout before building a slight 19-17 advantage.

However, the Warriors roared back with five straight points to take a 22-19 lead before ultimately winning the set 25-21 and claiming the playoff match victory.

Kyle Williamson led the attack for the Lancers with 10 kills in total, while Will Alexander had 24 assists to go along with 3 kills.

Lancers In Play-offs For Record Third Straight Year

As far as making the OUA men’s volleyball playoffs, Windsor Lancers coach Shawn Lippert is taking a been there, done that approach.

“To finish fourth in our league is an accomplishment but I’m done with that,” said Lippert as his team prepares to make its third straight post-season appearance when the Lancers host Windsor native Corey Yednoroz (Massey) and the Waterloo Warriors Saturday for an OUA quarter-final at the St. Denis Centre at 7:30 p.m.

“I want our team to get past the quarter-finals.”

Coach Shawn Lippert

Since Lippert took the reins, the Lancers have hit the playoff hat trick but they have yet to reach the second round.

In each of the past two years, at Guelph last year and here in Windsor in 2009-10, the Guelph Gryphons ended the Lancers’ season with a heartbreaking, five-set victory.

For a few days late in the regular season, it once again appeared as if the Gryphons might provide Windsor’s opening-round opposition but a late fade saw Guelph finish at 9-9 while the Lancers earned a tiebreaker over Waterloo for fourth after each went 11-7.

“There’s Western, Mac (McMaster) and Queen’s and then it’s Guelph, Windsor and Waterloo basically clawing at each other for that fourth spot,” Lippert said.

“From sixth place up, it’s nuts in our conference. Our goal is always to make the playoffs because once you do, anything can happen.”

The Lancers and Warriors split their head-to-head meetings along home-court lines.

Windsor won here 3-1 while Waterloo prevailed (barely) 3-2 up there.

The Warriors feature a couple of players Lippert tried hard to get into Lancer blue and gold in six-foot-six middle Jordan Dyck and setter Scott Thomson.

“They have a really good middle attack with Dyck and they have one strong left side (Fiodar Kazhamiaka) and they picked up a Laurier transfer in Cam Wheelan to play right side.”

Kazhamiaka is Waterloo’s most prolific hitter with 186 kills on the regular season good for seventh in the OUA.

The Lancers feature two of the league’s best pounders in seniors Harrison Oake and CIS all-star and OUA player of the year Kyle Williamson.

Oake finished second in the league with 219 kills and Williamson was fourth with 200.

Ryan Le was right up there in the top five until he was sidelined by a back injury.

Le is expected back in the mix Saturday while second-semester addition Timothee Jaumel from Montpellier, France, is day-to-day as he continues his recovery from a high ankle sprain.

“We have a game plan put together that’s going to give the boys confidence,” Lippert said.

“We’ve had some injuries but our bench is deep enough to get the job done and move on to the second round.”

Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/sports/Lancers+host+volleyball+playoff+game+Saturday/6152365/story.html#ixzz1nK23Tdxl

Williamson Named OUA All Star

The Windsor Lancers are pleased to announce that Kyle Williamson from the Lancer Men’s Volleyball team has been named an OUA first team all-star, as announced by the today by Ontario University Athletics.

This is the second straight season the Essex, Ontario native has been named a first team conference all-star.

The fourth year outside hitter finished the season averaging 3.6 per game on 232.5 total points, 3.08 kills per game, 200 total points, and 1.66 digs per game.

Williamson is coming off a spectacular 2010-11 season that saw him named the OUA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year as well as become a CIS First Team All-Canadian for the first time in program history.

Congratulations to Kyle on another tremendous season.