A trio of former Belmont Bulldogs didnB次元官网网址檛 have to worry about switching jersey colours this year when they joined the Camosun Chargers menB次元官网网址檚 volleyball team.
Rookies Douglas Waterman, Mark Severinsen and Taran Silas, products of Kris JohnsonB次元官网网址檚 program at Belmont, have fit right in with the Chargers, with fourth-year middle Alex Sadowski helping blaze the trail for them.
The Gazette caught up with the four players last weekend, after the second-place Chargers swept their second Pacific Western Athletic Association (PacWest) home match in two days against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence.
B次元官网网址淲e played high school together and have played together since Grade 8,B次元官网网址� said Waterman, a six-five middle out of Metchosin. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really awesome to have some of my best friends (playing on this team).B次元官网网址�
He likes the fact that four former Bulldogs are playing the sport at a high level this season and will compete for a provincial title next month when Camosun hosts the PacWest championships.
B次元官网网址淗opefully this is sparking some younger kids to play volleyball,B次元官网网址� Waterman said. B次元官网网址淲hen I started playing I didnB次元官网网址檛 love it, I just said B次元官网网址榳hat the heck, letB次元官网网址檚 try it out.B次元官网网址� Now itB次元官网网址檚 my favourite sport; I love it and canB次元官网网址檛 get enough of it.B次元官网网址�
Colwood resident Severinsen, a six-foot-one leftside hitter and one of three brothers to play for the Bulldogs in past years, also hopes the prevalence of Belmont alums will have a positive effect.
B次元官网网址淚t kind of paves the way for younger players,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen volleyball at Belmont go from nothing, where (older brother Luke) almost didnB次元官网网址檛 have a team because no one really knew about Belmont as a volleyball school, to now weB次元官网网址檙e seeing more players than the team can handle. ItB次元官网网址檚 awesome seeing younger teams perform better and better every year.B次元官网网址�
While Severinsen and Silas, a six-two leftside from Colwood, are seeing limited floor time yet, Waterman has played his way into a key role with the departure of Charger starting middle Lachlan Polson to Mount Royal University in the CIS.
Longtime Chargers head coach Charles Parkinson said itB次元官网网址檚 a massive leap from high school to college, especially to a college team that is going to challenge for a title. Nonetheless, the coaching staff felt comfortable throwing Waterman into the deep end early.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 done very well,B次元官网网址� Parkinson said. B次元官网网址淭here are times when I can see heB次元官网网址檚 a rookie, but he handles himself well B次元官网网址� HeB次元官网网址檚 doing all the things weB次元官网网址檙e asking him to do; heB次元官网网址檚 just light on experience and that will come and he will continue to get better and better as time goes by.B次元官网网址�
Overall the coach likes what the newcomers bring to the team, above all their outstanding work ethic and B次元官网网址渂urning desire to want to be successful.B次元官网网址�
Sadowski, 24, took some time off before joining the Chargers in 2011. He began with a bang, winning conference rookie of the year honours. He continues to be a leader and as the tallest player on the squad at six-foot-seven, he can dominate defensively.
Before last weekendB次元官网网址檚 matches, he sat third in the league in blocks with 1.09 per game, 11th in kills with 2.61 per game and was sixth in total offensive stats, a measure of overall effectiveness.
Sadowski gave a bit of perspective on the Bulldogs connection.
B次元官网网址淏elmont, they do have a very strong program. But volleyball in Victoria is usually dominated by Oak Bay and Claremont,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏elmontB次元官网网址檚 been there (in recent years), so itB次元官网网址檚 nice to see a bunch of guys coming in and holding their own.B次元官网网址�
Parkinson recalled when he first saw Sadowski play.
B次元官网网址淗e was six-seven and-a-half and 220 pounds and I started salivating. He was an athlete; he didnB次元官网网址檛 have all the skills; but you canB次元官网网址檛 teach size and you canB次元官网网址檛 teach athleticism,B次元官网网址� Parkinson said. B次元官网网址淲hat we can do is teach them the skills and heB次元官网网址檚 developed into a beast in this league, a first team all-star.B次元官网网址�
All four players look forward to hosting provincials Feb. 26 to 28 at PISE, when the home fans turn the PISE gym electric. For Sadowski, one of two Chargers in their final year, the hope is to go out in style, capturing the crown as the 2009-10 Chargers did when they last hosted the tournament.
Camosun plays the Columbia Bible College Bearcats (7-9) in Abbotsford this weekend then hosts league-leading Douglas College Royals (14-2) Jan. 30 and 31. Visit for more information.
Rodstrom a womenB次元官网网址檚 volleyball veteran
ItB次元官网网址檚 not just the Camosun menB次元官网网址檚 team that has former Belmont players keeping them competitive.
Jamie Rodstrom is in her third season playing libero with the womenB次元官网网址檚 Chargers (12-2), who are in a battle for top spot in the PacWest standings with the Capilano University Blues (13-1) after sweeping UFV 3-0 on home court at PISE last weekend.
Rodstrom, who earned a Canadian Collegiate national collegiate scholar-athlete
The womenB次元官网网址檚 provincial championships run concurrent to the menB次元官网网址檚 at Camosun next month. But if things keep going the way they have been, the Chargers will be among the favourites to capture the womenB次元官网网址檚 crown as well.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
