[caption id="attachment_3398" align="alignnone" width="250" caption="Denai Wouters"][/caption] The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s’ volleyball team improved itself immensely for the upcoming Canada West season.  Head coach Keith Lundgren is pleased to announce the signing of 6’2” middle Katarina Osadchuk (Brisbane, Australia) and 5’8” libero Denai Wouters (North Battleford, Saskatchewan). Both players come into TRU with impressive credentials.  Both are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program. [caption id="attachment_3399" align="alignnone" width="250" caption="Katarina Osadchuk"][/caption] Osadchuk is a two time member of the Australian Junior National Women’s team. Wouters played for Lundgren in 2007 and 2008 with Lakeland College of the Alberta College Athletic Conference.  She was an ACAC All-Star. Osadchuk was looking to come to North America to go to school.  Her strength coach in Australia put her in touch with Lundgren.   “ I am so excited to be here.”  She was born in Russia, spent  seven years in Croatia before moving to Australia. She started playing volleyball in2004.Osadchuk gave up swimming—where she competed at the National Level to concentrate on volleyball in 2006.  “ I played state volleyball for five years  and we won the Australian title twice and played on the Junior National team twice.”   Her top finish with Aussie Junior National team was an 11 th place finish at the Asian Championships. Osadchuk joins the WolfPack program at a good time: a number of the middles from the TRU team last season have decided not to return. “ I would say my strengths are blocking and hitting,” she explains. Wouters is a versatile player. She played middle until high school when she switched to left side where she played at Lakeland College.  She started 2008 with Lakeland but injured her knee and wound up getting a year of eligibility back.  Wouters is looking forward to playing a new position at the CIS level. “ I love back row as it is,” she says. “When you are left side hitter you wind up playing a lot of defence.  I think the biggest adjustment will be the fact that I have to remember I can’t hit the ball anymore.” Wouters believes that her defence is her strong suit and she’s able to move quickly.  She hopes that playing competitively in a number of different sports has brought a winning attitude that she pass onto her teammates.  She is looking forward to making the WolfPack a stronger program in the Canada West. “It is a building year so everyone will have to step up and make the program better.  We have to work together and put together some wins.” She relishes the role model situation that Thompson Rivers puts its athletes into with a number of school clinics and public appearances. “I have worked with children my entire life-Boys and Girls clubs and everything.  I think being a role model is a good challenge. Kamloops is a smaller center and I think the more we can get out and support community activities, the more that they will come and cheer us on.” Wouters plans to get a Masters Degree in Psychology.  She loves TRU and Kamloops.  “ I love to see the mountains.  I love it here and it’s beautiful.”  She was looking at attending the University of Saskatchewan before being asked to come to TRU.  Osadchuk echoes the fact that the campus and the city are stunning. “ People are amazing. I am so happy I decided to come here.”   Osadchuk is looking at a possible career in Education. Coach Lundgren is looking forward to working with both players.  “ They both bring experience, which is great when starting out a new program.  Denai has had me as a coach in the past so she’s familiar with my stile.  We are all excited that they have chosen TRU to continue their post secondary education.”