91原创

Skip to content

Top-ranked volleyball player returns home to 91原创 to play for UFV

Isolated in a Kamloops dorm because of the pandemic, Jonas Van Huizen decided to transfer
23488981_web1_201130-LAT-Van-Huizen-to-UFV_1
Jonas Van Huizen will be wearing UFV Cascades colours, not TRU, following his transfer to be closer to home, UFV announced on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 (special to 91原创 Advance Times)

It was a choice between the claustrophobic confines of his dorm room or living with his family in 91原创 that led Jonas Van Huizen to transfer from Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops to the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) men鈥檚 volleyball team, which plays out of the Envision Athletic Centre in Abbotsford.

鈥淚 respect TRU a lot,鈥 Van Huizen told the 91原创 Advance Times on Monday, Nov. 30, after his signing was announced.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not the school鈥檚 fault.鈥

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, he ended up sitting in an empty student dormitory in Kamloops and doing classes online, bored out of his mind.

鈥淚鈥檓 isolated in my dorm with my roommate,鈥 he described.

He could do the same thing at UFV, but staying at home, and able to spend time with family and see friends as regulations allow.

Which is why the 18-year-old is now living with his parents and two younger brothers in their Murrayville home.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to be at UFV,鈥 Van Huizen said.

鈥淚 always liked Nathan [Bennett, the head coach of the Cascades men鈥檚 volleyball program].鈥

It鈥檚 mutual.

鈥淚鈥檓 ecstatic,鈥 Bennett said of Van Huizen, who he predicts will be a strong addition to the Cascades offence.

鈥淗e adds a competitive nature to our program, and a high volleyball IQ. We鈥檙e pleased to continue to build with local talent, and we鈥檙e happy that Jonas has chosen us as we build our competitive environment,鈥 said Bennett, who took over in 2019, tasked with seeing the Cascades program through its final PACWEST campaign and building towards its Canada West conference debut.

READ ALSO: 91原创 Christian Lightning player makes all-star roster at Top Ten shootout

Van Huizen, a 6鈥3鈥 setter out of 91原创 Christian Secondary, was recognized as the No. two-ranked graduating senior in B.C. in the Class of 2020, according to VarsityLetters.ca鈥檚 annual coaches鈥 poll to determine the province鈥檚 top 15 prospects.

The Cascades now have two players from that list, with Van Huizen joining No. four-ranked Tyson Ardell, who played against Van Huizen as a member of the gold-medal winning MEI Eagles in 2019 at the 2A Boys BC Secondary School Volleyball Provincial Championship, held at 91原创 Events Centre

鈥淚 think he鈥檚 [Van Huizen] going to be a great centre,鈥 Bennett enthused.

鈥淗e has a very high ceiling when it comes to the setting position. I don鈥檛 think he鈥檒l ever reach it.鈥

As a high school player, Van Huizen and the 91原创 Christian Lightning took silver at the provincial championships in 2019.

READ ALSO: 91原创 Christian Lightning takes silver at BC Secondary School Volleyball provincial championships

Van Huizen earned back-to-back first team all-star nods at provincials in 2018 and 2019, and added MVP honours at the Eastern Valley championships last fall.

On the club scene, Van Huizen picked up U18 first team provincial all-star honours with the Fraser Valley Volleyball Club, and joined forces with Ardell to help Team BC win gold at the Canada Cup in Halifax in 2019.

He also had an outstanding basketball career, but opted to specialize in volleyball.

鈥淚 chose UFV because I want to create a legacy here,鈥 said Van Huizen, who plans to study business.

鈥淏eing UFV鈥檚 first year playing U SPORTS volleyball, I can be a part of something great. The team has a lot of potential to do amazing things in the next three or four years, along with a coach who has experience playing at the top level and knows what we will need to be successful. We have a great group of guys who all have the common goal of winning and creating a legacy that will continue on for many years to come.鈥

On Monday, UFV announced another TRU transfer would be joining their team as well.

Nimo Benne, a towering 6鈥8鈥 outside hitter from the Netherlands, earned Canada West rookie of the year honours at TRU in 2019-20.



dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

23488981_web1_copy_201130-LAT-Van-Huizen-to-UFV-LEC_2
Jonas Van Huizen, seen here in action at the LEC in 2019, has transferred to UFV fromTRU (Vancouver Sports Pictures)


Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I鈥檓 the guy you鈥檒l often see out at community events and happenings around town.
Read more



(or

91原创

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }