The Volleyball program at Thompson Rivers University has taken advantage of its hard work cultivating the sport in the City of Prince George, BC in recent years. Usually, it is the men’s program who have drawn a recruit out of that area. But this time around, it is the women’s team which has been successful. Head coach Chad Grimm and the WolfPack are pleased to announce that Hali Drezet of Duchess Park Secondary has agreed to join the CIS program effective September 2016. She played for Team BC’s U-17 program last year and was also selected to the Junior National women’s team. Her coach with Team BC was former WolfPack player and Kamloops Volleyball Association president Ashley Shannik.: Hali's volleyball IQ and ability to read a developing play will make her transition to the CIS a natural one as she become more comfortable playing the "other side" of the court she will be one of the best Liberos in Canada West. Hali is a gritty athlete that will stand in on every attack and will sacrifice herself to make the play. “ Shannik adds: “The fact that she has played as a setter for the majority of her volleyball career so far, she bring a exciting dynamic to any team she will play on. She can easily turn a team from being out of system to generating a solid attacking with her back court setting skills. Hali will be a great addition to TRU that will stabilize their back court for years to come.” That comment is echoed by Grimm. “I think Hali is very good at directing traffic. She reads the game well and is very vocal. She is not afraid to use her voice on the court. I think she is gritty and tough and has won at all different levels. I have known her for many years. As young as grade four she was a gym rat. She puts the time in there. She is not afraid of getting work done.” Drezet is a setter and libero. “My strengths that I am a very good leader,” she says. “I am positive and have a lot of energy. I have a strong desire to win.” She said there was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to play university volleyball at Thompson Rivers. “I am super familiar with the program and the school. It feels like home.” She will be taking courses aimed at getting a Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Criminology (OL) degree at TRU. Drezet had been an ‘unofficial’ WolfPack supporter for many years. Her father Dan is the President of the Prince George Volleyball Club. Through his dealings with the club and with Volleyball BC, he has become close friends with both TRU volleyball coaches---Grimm and Pat Hennelly. “It just seemed natural that I chose Thompson Rivers,” Hallie says. “Everyone assumed that I was coming here. I had some interest from other schools but as soon as Chad was named head coach of the women’s program: this was the only place I wanted to go.” Chad agrees that familiarity was a benefit in securing Hali’s services. “Pat has had the camp in Prince George. I grew up in Quesnel and spent a lot of time in Prince George. I have known Dan, Kim and their daughters Jordan and Hali for a long, long time. It helps to open the discussion as far as TRU as potentially being a fit for her.” Drezet said her visit to the school and to meet the team came very easy as well. “I like the girls and the facility (Tournament Capital Centre). They are very nice.” She says joining the “Pack for next September is a good opportunity for her. Katie Woo (Surrey, BC) is the current starting setter but is graduating school in June. Robyn Froese (Red Deer, AB) will be heading into her fifth year in 2016-17. There will also be a spot open at libero with Alyssa Wolf (South Surrey, BC) playing out her eligibility this season. When asked about continuing on the Prince George-to-TRU tradition, Hali is looking forward to continuing it on. “We haven’t had a Prince George girl come to TRU since Elise Foot (older sister of current TRU middle Jordan). It will be good to get started again.” She admits that returning to PG in the summer to work at the WolfPack’s volleyball camp as an instructor will be a unique opportunity. “It will be weird to coach kids that I have played with or against. It will be great to finally wear the WolfPack stuff.” When asked why Prince George has become a mecca for volleyball, Drezet credits her father. “He puts a lot of time and effort into the program. He has really built something there. No one really expects much from the north but the coaches have really worked hard to make it successful.” Earlier, The WolfPack signed another highly touted player: left side Sarah Dobinson of Brooklin, Ontario. SIDE OUTS: Hali has been coached at the high school and club level by her mother. When asked to compare Hali to her sister Jordan (who just finished playing for Grande Prairie Regional College of the Alberta College Athletic Association), she says the two are completely different players. “ Halie is more of a defensive, freelance type of player while Jordan is more technical. Jordan is more of a setter while Hali is more of a libero.” Kim,who coaches Hali at both the high school and club level says as soon as Grimm took over the program, TRU became the obvious place for Hali to go. “After he took over as head coach it became the only place we wanted her to go. Coaching is very important to us and if we didn’t feel that if he wasn’t going to be a positive influence on her, she wouldn’t have come.’