Wpg Free Press: Local athletes off to Germany

Three local volleyball players are getting set to team up and take their talents to Germany.

Former University of Manitoba Bisons Luke Herr and Ken Rooney, as well as former University of Winnipeg Wesmen Casey Schouten, have signed with the Netzhoppers, a team that plays in the highest division in German volleyball — the Bundesliga. The trio of 24-year-olds wrapped up their university careers in 2017 and are entering their second seasons as professional players.

Herr, a 6-4 setter, returns to the Netzhoppers for a second season. In his rookie year as a pro, he was the starting setter for the club. Rooney, a 6-8 middle, spent his first professional season playing in Sweden while Schouten, a 6-5 right-side hitter, had his first taste of the pro game last year in Finland.

The Netzhoppers were in need of a middle and a right side for the upcoming season, and the club noticed Rooney and Schouten. Herr also put in a good word for the pair. Herr was the lone Canadian on the team last year, and said this time around it will be nice to set for some familiar faces.

“It’s pretty sweet, because we get to show them that Canada can also play volleyball,” Herr said on what it means to have fellow Winnipeggers on the team. “It puts us on the map and shows them what we’ve got here in Canada, too. (The Netzhoppers) didn’t really know much about Canadians because I was one of the first Canadians to ever play on this team, so they really didn’t know what to expect when they were getting me last year.”

Herr clearly made a strong impression, as the club went searching for more Canadians for this year’s roster.