Ottawa, ON - For a second straight year UBC's
Jarrid Ireland,
Milan Nikic, and
Alex Russell have been named to Volleyball Canada's national junior team. The trio are part of the 14 member squad selected following a week long training camp in Gatineau, Quebec.
That number will ultimately get down to 12 players when the U21 team represents Canada at the FIVB World Junior Champiponships in Ankara and Izmir, Turkey August 22 to September 1.
"We are extremely proud of Milan, Alex and Jarrid in making the junior national team again this cycle," said UBC head coach
Richard Schick. "It is a testament to the hard work they have put in throughout this past year and a direct reflection of the competitiveness of our team in helping these guys improve on their overall game."
Ireland, an outside hitter from Winnipeg, Manitoba, finished seventh in the Canada West in points averaging 4.13/set and eighth in the Canada West in kills with 3.49/set. He was a member of the CIS All-Rookie team following his first year in 2011-12 and will be entering his third season with the 'Birds in 2013-14.
Nikic, UBC's starting setter, was named a second team Canada West all-star in 2012-13 in just his second year of CIS volleyball. He helped the 'Birds to a 15-7 regular season record and a spot in the Canada West Final Four. The Calgary, Alberta native was fourth in the Canada West in assists and service aces.
The 6'10 Russell is one of the Canada West's top big men in the middle. Hailing from Surrey, BC, Russell was fourth in the Canada West in blocks in 2012-13 averaging 1.36/set. Like Ireland and Nikic, he too will be entering his third year with UBC in 2013-14.
Ireland, Nikic, and Russell are three of six returning players from last year's national junior team that won a silver medal at the U21 NORCECA Championship in 2012, losing to the United States. With the second place finish Canada qualified for the 2013 U21 World Juniors. Russell was named the tournament's best blocker at the NORCECA Championship.
The team will train in Gatineau, Quebec from June 24 to July 4 and then move to Hamilton, Ontario before heading to Costa Rica for the U21 Pan Am Cup July 12-20. They will then return to Hamilton for more training prior to departing for Turkey August 15.
Volleyball Canada's 2013 Men's National Junior Team (sorted by province):
Alberta (4):
Milan Nikic, Calgary; Ryley Barnes, St. Paul; John Goranson, Red Deer; Jeremy Davies, Calgary.
British Columbia (2): Brad Gunter, Courtenay;
Alex Russell, Surrey.
Manitoba (2): Casey Schouten, Winnipeg;
Jarrid Ireland, Winnipeg.
Ontario (4): Bruno Lortie, Ottawa; Jayson McCarthy, Oshawa; Danny Demyanenko, Toronto; Stephen Maar, Aurora.
Quebec (2) : Gabriel Chancy, Montreal; Jean-Philippe Desjardins, Gatineau.
Head Coach - Dave Preston Assistant Coaches - Brad Poplawski and Nathan Janzen
- with files from Volleyball Canada
