The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have gone to Manitoba for their latest women’s volleyball recruit.  The WolfPack and head coach Chad Grimm are pleased to announce that  5’9” outside hitter Tyneille Neufeld (pronounced ta-neal) of Portage La Prairie has committed to the CIS program effective the fall of 2014. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Tyneille Neufeld[/caption] “Tyneille brings a great work ethic and strong back court ability to our team,” says Grimm of Neufeld, who met her initially with her parents and club coach when the WolfPack paid a visit to the Winnipeg Wesmen.   “ She’ll compete as an outside hitter and has the ability to play libero.  She was ranked a top 10 recruit coming out of Manitoba and moved to Winnipeg in her final year of high school in order to compete at a higher level. This amount of drive and dedication will be a benefit to the program.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="398"] WolfPack head coach Chad Grimm (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] “I chose TRU because it’s been my dream to come to BC to go to school,” says Neufeld, who graduates this season from Westwood Collegiate in Winnipeg and plays for the Vision Elite Volleyball club. Her high school team were the conference champs in the WWAC (West Winnipeg Athletic Conference) and finished in the final four at the Manitoba “AAAA” high school championships. “ Kamloops is a beautiful and amazing location,” she adds.” The business course  at TRU is very strong and I got a good vibe from the girls on the team. I think this will be a competitive team.  I hope there will be a chance for me to see the court in my first year.” Neufeld hopes to garner a Bachelor of Business Administration degree while attending TRU majoring in Marketing and Finance. Volleyball-wise, she and her partner won the U-18 Manitoba Beach championship and finished ninth at Nationals. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Neufeld (up in the air on left) with block with her high school team Westwood Warriors (photo submitted)[/caption] Neufeld has seen CIS volleyball before. “ Honestly, watching the teams I feel that I can compete at this level.  I know that overall every player will be strong and we will be able to push each other. At high school, you have a few good players spread out.  It will be an adjustment to compete but will be fun.” She agrees with the assessment that her defense is her strong suit but also says she has great ball control.  “ I pass very well and never let a ball hit the floor on defense. Also, in the front row I have very good shot selection.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="172"] Neufeld's high school coach Erica Reimer (photo submitted)[/caption] That is echoed by her high school coach Erica Reimer.  “ Tyneille was one of the captains on our team. She is a strong consistent hitter who is good at placing the ball. Tyneille is one of the most coachable kids I have ever worked with. She is extremely hard working, both at practice and competing in games. She is super competitive and this shows in her ‘no quit’ attitude.  She has high expectations for herself and her teammates and is a leader on the court-both through her actions and vocally.” Neufeld is looking forward to being a part of the rebirth of women’s volleyball at TRU. “ I think it will be really fun be a part of a team that is growing.  I really like Chad’s approach to the game. I look forward to playing for him and can sense he will be a great coach.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Neufeld's future teammates Katie Woo (left) and Morgan Kolasa(right) at 2014 Wendy's Dreamlift[/caption] The community support that Kamloops gives the WolfPack is something she is looking forward to being a part of. “ I think I will love being a role model and getting involved in community activities. I love to represent myself as a volleyball player. To be known in the community will be great.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="319"] fellow WolfPack recruit Krista Hogenwoning (photo submitted)[/caption] Neufeld becomes the third recruit to be announced by the WolfPack for the 2014-15 Canada West season following Alyssa Wolf (White Rock, BC) and Krista Hogewoning (Surrey, BC).   More announcements are expected in the coming weeks. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] Grimm and last year's assistant coach Mike Hawkins (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] Coach Grimm says the three new players are all valued additions to the program.  “ When they made their visits to our campus, I got the impression they will all fit in very well. All three have the ability to contribute to our program right away and will improve our competitiveness in practice and matches immediately. I am excited to have these girls join us as we move forward.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Neufeld with the kill with her Vision Elite club team (#10) (photo submitted)[/caption] SIDE OUTS:  Neufeld on her visit here in January.  “ My visit was an amazing experience. My first step off the plane, I saw the mountains and fell in love with the city right away. I said to my Dad, “ Yah I can see myself living here’. The first thing I did when I got to TRU was practice with the team.  It was super nerve racking, but the girls were so welcoming that I began to feel at ease right away. I felt like I fit in with the girls pretty well and liked seeing how Chad coaches.  I went out for dinner with Katie (Woo-2^nd year setter, Surrey, BC) and Morgan (Kolasa, 1^st year, middle, Calgary, AB) . It was great to connect with some of my future teammates. I love them. They were very easy going, funny and made me feel comfortable. I trained again with them the next morning. It was good to see what I should expect for next year and comforting knowing that I could keep up. I am in an elite training program at my high school.  Katarina (Legutsky, 2^nd year, outside hitter, Calgary, AB) took me for a tour of the campus.  She is so great and I really enjoyed getting to know her as I looked around campus. It’s small enough to walk to everything.   I ended the trip flying on the same plane with the team as they travelled to Regina. It was so neat getting the feel of travelling with the team and is something I look forward to next year.  On the trip, I was ready to commit to TRU and knew I would want to call Kamloops and TRU my home this coming fall.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] Katarina Legutky (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] Neufeld’s club coach with Vision Elite in Winnipeg has been Luc Tremblay. He is quick to come up with his favorite anecdote about the newest member of the WolfPack. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="348"] Neufeld's club coach Luc Tremblay (photo submitted)[/caption] My favourite memory of Tyneille and her team came during the Championship match at Nationals last year. We came out to play Jr. Heat of Kelowna, BC who managed to beat us convincingly during the first set. Overall ,this was a much bigger team than ours and they had clearly intimidated our girls. We lost the first set badly. I explained what the girls needed to do to turn the match around and we had, in fact, seen some of that start to happen during the final points of the first set. In the second set Tyneille led the charge and began to aggressively hit the open lane and attack the block when the set was right. She is a determined competitor and responds very well to clear direction.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Neufeld's U-17 club team won the National championship last summer (photo submitted)[/caption] “Half way into the second set Tyneille hit a huge line shot and the girls came together in a quick huddle. They finally began believing they could win and the tide of the match started to change. Everyone in the gym understood what had just happened and the momentum now swung in our favor. The third set was a tight exchange of points and it was obvious that the match would be won and lost by two points. At 14-13 Tyneille found herself in the back row and we got timed out. I called for an inside set for an inside pattern by my left-side attacker and our libero badly shanked the pass. Tyneille chased down the ball and made a perfect out-of-system inside set exactly where the attacker needed it and she tooled the middle blocker to win us the match. This moment highlighted how Tyneille not only contributes to her team’s success by ending rallies with her attacking skills, but contributes in all aspects of the game. We've always enjoyed sharing the memory of a team who made a conscious decision to end their season playing like champions. They listened and acted on what their coach advised and ended up believing they could win; A true depiction of the power of a positive mindset. And that is Tyneille. TRU is very lucky to have her.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Kara Twomey serving for TRU in 2011 (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] Tremblay is the former club coach of WolfPack setter Kara Twomay.