TWU setter earns place among CW greats

Two-time national champ inducted into Hall of Fame

CALGARY - Ben Ball is the newest member of the Canada West Hall of Fame, the conference announced Tuesday. The 2012 Trinity Western graduate laid down the foundation for Spartans volleyball as it is revered today. The former setter was the centrepiece of a squad that won back-to-back national championships in 2011 and 2012.

In his graduating year, he would not be denied. He helped the Spartans capture the Canada West banner after falling short the year prior before slashing through the competition at nationals. Ball and the Spartans dominated the first two games (3-0) before defeating Laval 3-1 in the championship finals. Ball was named the tournament MVP, the Canada West Player of the Year, the Canada West Athlete of the Year (all sports) and the U SPORTS Player of the Year.

His mark that year of assists per set (11.538) still endures as the second-most all time. His name is also in the CW record book under all-time career set assists (11th with 2742) and career set assists per set (12th with 9.264).

Ball helped eight teammates maintain averages of at least 1.3 kills per set, while guiding the Spartans to a CIS-leading 13.68 kills per set.

“Of all the guys I head coached, Ben was the first guy to truly be the best in the country while he was at Trinity Western. The offence he ran and the winning that surrounded him is why the legend of Ben Ball will live on forever. To go to three straight national finals and to culminate with the perfect season – National Player of the Year, Canada West Champion and National Champion – while leading arguably the best Canada West volleyball team ever in terms of points scored and efficiency is just incredible. He led the greatest offence that there’s ever been in Canada West. As a setter, it’s hard to deny how special that is. There were four future Olympians on that 2011-12 roster and he made it all click. When you’re around that many alphas, having a player who is that special and who can fit between the cracks is maybe one of Ben’s best traits. It was crazy to see how much more he got out of his players because of the person he was. That trait as a leader is so underrated. Because Ben was the setter, that group all performed better than their collective abilities and his teammates loved to play with him. These serial winners are a combination of character and competence and Ben was a perfect example of what that looks like,” said Ben Josephson, head coach of the TWU Spartans men’s volleyball team.

Ball also has two Canada West all-star selections to his name and U SPORTS all-star status.

Ball was recently named the Interim Co-Head Coach of the Trinity Western men’s volleyball team after serving as an assistant coach with the program for 10 years.

“Winning surrounds Ben. He won in high school and then he won in university and then he joined the Spartans staff as an assistant coach and we won another three national championships. Ben just has this amazing ability to be encouraging and challenging at the same time. He makes the gym a fun place to be, but he also pushes guys to play better than they ever expected they could. Winning just follows him wherever he goes and there aren’t a lot of people I have come across who have been part of as many successful things as Ben Ball,” said Josephson.

ABOUT THE CANADA WEST HALL OF FAME

For the last century, organized university sport has been a central part of the student experience at institutions across Western Canada. Beginning with the University of Manitoba capturing the first Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) men's hockey banner in 1919-20, student-athletes have been competing to reach their full potential in sport and the classroom, while enriching campus life. 

To commemorate 100 years of university sport across Western Canada, the Canada West Hall of Fame was created in the spring of 2019. This year's induction class will be unveiled throughout the summer of 2022.

VISIT: CanadaWestHallofFame.org

 

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About Canada West

Since 1972, Canada West (CW) has been a leader in Canadian university sport, working to provide our student-athletes the opportunities to excel in sport, the classroom, and their communities. CW and our 17 members from across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba collectively carry on a legacy of competitive excellence, as our champions proudly go on to represent the conference at U SPORTS national championships.

Canada West – training leaders, building champions.