Fraser subs in for graduating brother on Huskies
Tried and true, mixed with something totally new.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies — who will play host to the 2015 Canadian Interuniversity Sport national men’s volleyball championship — have a heavily stocked recruiting class for this fall.
Among the nine newcomers is Saskatoon’s Colin Fraser, who subs in for his older brother, graduating fifth-year Bryan Fraser.
“Watching him over the past five years has got me to learn more about the game and how good you need to be to be able to play at the next level,” said Colin Fraser, a 6-foot-6 leftside hitter.
“It’ll be a good experience.”
Fraser, a multi-sport athlete, also excelled at basketball and football at Bishop James Mahoney High School but volleyball “is kind of the sport I’ve always loved the most.”
U of S head coach Brian Gavlas expects the younger Fraser to make an immediate impact based on his athleticism, size, jumping ability and skill.
“Colin looks pretty good,” Gavlas said Friday. “I would like to think he’s one of the better high school athletes, certainly in the city if not the whole province. He’s going to be a big addition to our team.
“He’s very similar to his brother and I expect him to make a significant mark with our program.”
The newest twist is bringing Switzerland’s Etienne Hagenbuch into the Dogs’ pound.
Hagenbach, a libero who played in the Swiss Volleyball League, helped TV Schonenwerd to the national final. The 19-year-old Hagenbuch is a member of the Swiss senior national squad.
“He has to come in and complete the English requirements and whatnot, but the expectation is he’s going to be here come September,” said Gavlas.
“We just need to be a little more competitive at that (libero) position. The things that we saw on video, he looks to be a pretty solid libero and he’s been playing at the highest level in his country.”
Two college transfers are also set to join the Huskies in Troy Wiebe, a setter from the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves, and Alex Harvalias, a left-side hitter from the Capilano University Blues who ranked in the PACWEST top-10 in aces, digs, kills and total offence.
CIS transfer Andrew Nelson, a 6-foot-6 right-side hitter who was CIS rookie of the year in 2012, joins the U of S from the rival University of Regina Cougars. He will sit out the season due to CIS eligibility rules.
Rounding out the high school recruits are Austin Olexsyn (Prince Albert St. Mary’s), Stephen Senicar (Kincaid), Aaron Halyk (PA St. Mary’s), Kale Little (Estevan) and Connor Waterman (Meadow Lake).