It’s official; the Nipissing Lakers will be well-represented at the 2017 Summer FISU Games in Taipei City, Taiwan.
In fact, they’ll give the most representation (four members) of any of the USports teams on the Men’s Volleyball squad, serving as Team Canada at the event, which begins in August.
Three athletes – Steve Wood, Warren Taylor, and Cameron Branch – along with head coach Eric Yung will all suit up in the red and white later this summer.
Warren Taylor
Taylor had a big season, ranking third in blocks per set and in the top-10 in both solo blocks, block assists and total blocks.
Taylor was a force in the middle, dominating at times and providing a very consistent effort for the Lakers.
He also added 99 kills this season and 146 total points, putting him in a tie for third place on Nipissing.
His 2.6 points per set were third on a talented Lakers team and he also added 20 digs and 10 service aces.
Taylor hit the 10 kill mark once this season but had nine kills three times and either seven or eight kills another five times.
Despite not blowing people away with his kill total, Taylor had nine matches in which he picked up at least 10 points, which included a 15.5 point effort at RMC in February.
Thanks to a solid season, Taylor now has over 300 kills and over 500 points in his career, as he has averaged around 2.5 points per set in that time.
The Ottawa, ON native quietly takes care of business and was a big reason his team took the next step this season.
Steve Wood
Wood battled injuries this season and in spite of missing some time, had a very impressive year, picking up 137 kills and earning 3.9 points per set throughout his 14 matches and 41 sets.
The third year middle/outside hitter has improved every year as a member of the Lakers and this year, he was as good as ever.
On top of leading the team in kills and points per set, he also led them in total points, scoring 160.5. He added 10 service aces and 41 digs as well.
The Newcastle, ON native, was a force on the court and on top of his scoring, he also picked up 20 blocks to help defensively.
A member of the National B Team, Wood has a bright future and will look to continue an impressive career with the Lakers next season, which has seen him pick up a total of 235 kills and 300.5 points.
He had matches this season where hit the double-digit mark in kills, including four straight in November.
His season-high came in the season opener at York, when he swung his way to 16 kills and 19 points.
Cameron Branch
Branch continued his strong career with the Lakers, ranking second on the team in kills with 120 and three points per set.
He suited up in 16 matches and chipped in with 73 digs, as well as 41 total blocks, picking up 148 points, which put him second to Wood on the team.
Branch hit double digits in kills four times during the year, as well as recording nine kills once and eight kills in another match.
The right side managed to pick up more at least 10.5 points in six matches, including three in a row late in the season, as the Lakers pushed for the post-season.
In four season as a Laker, Branch has over 700 kills, including 313 in 2015-16, where he was almost unstoppable on the offence, earning a second team all-star selection.
He has recorded at least three points per set the past three seasons, contributing to the Lakers rise up the standings in the OUA and their overall program development.
Eric Yung
Yung is currently in his 8th season as Head Coach of the Nipissing Lakers Men's Volleyball program. Recognized as the OCAA Coach of the Year and a CCAA Coach of the Year nominee in 2012, Yung guided the Lakers to the school's first National Championship Title in 2013, as well the program's first provincial medal (silver 2012) and first OCAA gold in 2013.
Yung is also responsible for the Lakers first ever U-Sports victory, winning season, and a playoff appearance.
Overall, under Yung's guidance, the Lakers have posted a combined record of 80-67 (CCAA and U-Sports), including playoffs, for an impressive 0.544 winning percentage.
During his tenure, the Lakers have consistently improved year after year. From a 5 win inaugural OUA season to an 11 win 2016-17 season, Yung has demonstrated that he is a coach who invests highly into the process of growth. This is evident as only 2 of the 14 student-athletes on the 2016-17 roster was recruited by any other school. Yung is dedicated to preparing his student-athletes for life after University both on and off the court.
