Team BC leans on local talent

Close to 80 players were vying for Team BC jobs.

Three from Prince George were among the successful candidates.

Despite the quantity and quality of their rivals, Jordan Foot, Sam Yurkowski and Matt Starzyk have earned spots in Volleyball BC's 17-and-under and 16-and-under provincial program. All three are currently training in Kamloops and will play for one of two versions of Team BC at the Western Elite Championships, July 27-29 in Winnipeg.

Foot, Yurkowski and Starzyk were high school volleyball stars this past season and are also members of the Prince George Youth Volleyball Club.

"For us to have three guys [in the Team BC program] is great," said youth volleyball club president Dan Drezet, who was part of a selection committee that included Team BC program leader Charles Parkinson and Thompson Rivers University head coach Pat Hennelly. "I thought it was a pretty good showing from our club. There were a couple other guys who were right in the mix as well but we had to look at taking some 16-U guys so unfortunately they got caught in the numbers game."

The final selection camp was held last weekend in Kamloops.

Foot, a D.P. Todd secondary school student, is a six-foot-five middle blocker. He was also part of the provincial program last summer and that should benefit him this time around.

"He got a lot of experience last year," Drezet said. "He played last year for Drew Venables, who is a returning coach, so I think they've got high hopes for Jordan. He's obviously a guy that can get the job done blocking-wise and is a pretty solid attacker as well."

Foot played above his age group this season as a member of the 18-U Kodiaks, as was Yurkowski. In Yurkowski's case especially, playing up a level was a big benefit in terms of development.

"Playing with guys like Mitch Duthie, Trevor Zemlak and Wayne Woyciehouski every day, [Foot and Yurkowski] have improved a lot in the last year," Drezet said.

Yurkowski is a six-foot-two setter who is also a D.P. Todd product.

"Sam's big thing is, he's a pretty calm guy," Drezet said. "His set location is good and he's a strong blocker and has done a really good job to improve his defence. I see Sam doing really great things."

Starzyk, a six-foot-three right side hitter, attends high school at College Heights secondary and played for the 17-U Kodiaks.

"I like to joke that on the volleyball court Matt's an angry guy," Drezet said.

"Matt made the provincial team this year because he goes out there and he hits the ball as hard as he can. Matt's not the well-rounded player yet but I think he will be. He's got some work to do on his defence but what really set him apart from the rest of the kids that were there [at the camp] is that he really goes after the ball and hits it hard. I'm really impressed with Matt. He kind of came out of nowhere. He wasn't on the radar and on the last day he was phenomenal."

Northern BC players Keel Haldane (Terrace) and Blaine Cranston (Fort St. John) also nabbed provincial team spots.

The clubs will remain in Kamloops until they head to Winnipeg for the Western Elite gathering. The tournament will feature the best-of-the-best from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.