(FREDERICTON, NB) The first members of the UNB Reds men’s volleyball team’s recruiting class of 2019 are Maritime-developed talents.
Liam Zinck, of Moncton, and Thomas Vickers, of Truro, Nova Scotia, have signed U SPORTS Letters of Intent and will join the Reds in the 2019-20 RSEQ season.
Zinck is a 6’9” middle who will join UNB after a season with the U18 Reds club team.
In 2018, he was selected to Team Atlantic for the Canada Cup event in British Columbia, and in 2017, he was a member of Team New Brunswick that earned a silver medal at the Eastern Elite Championship.
He’s currently playing with his Moncton-based high school team, École l’Odyssée Olympiens.
“UNB appealed to me from the start,” said Zinck. “Coach McMorran was the first coach to show interest in me. I got to see what a day on campus is like. I like the thought of being able to get a good education and have a quality volleyball program.”
“Liam is an athlete who doesn’t have tons of volleyball experience, but at 6’9”, and possessing excellent athletic ability, he has the potential to be a dominant player in our sport,” said Reds head coach Dan McMorran. “He’s an excellent student and a very coachable athlete who has a real desire to improve, and I’m excited to start working with him in the very near future.”
“I’ll bring a positive learning attitude and a level-headed demeanor,” said Zinck. “I believe I’ll add to the good chemistry of the team.”
Zinck will study in Faculty of Arts.
Vickers, an outside hitter, stands 6’4”. He can play the left or right side.
He was a teammate of Zinck’s on Team Atlantic at the Canada Cup.
Vickers was a member of Nova Scotia’s 2017 Canada Games team, and a member of the Tide Volleyball Club from 2016-2018.
As team captain, Vickers led Truro’s Cobequid Educational Centre’s varsity boys team to their fourth straight NSAAF title, completing a perfect 48-0 season. The provincial title was the third of Vickers’ high school career.
“I have high expectations for myself, which I strive to achieve through commitment and dedication,” said Vickers. “I bring a positive yet competitive attitude and will focus on the success of the team.”
“Thomas is a very skilled, hard-working athlete who has had significant success on both his high school and club volleyball teams in Truro over the past few years,” said McMorran. “His experience in both outside positions, coupled with his physicality and competitiveness, will certainly help make the transition to the U SPORTS level an easier one for him.”
“Short term, I’ll work hard and hope to be an impact player for the team, both on and off the court,” said Vickers. “Long term, I hope to win our conference and medal at the U SPORTS championship.”
Vickers has been a distinguished high school track and field athlete and badminton player, and has been recognized with bursaries and community awards for leadership and sportsmanship.
“He’s an excellent student with a desire to excel in both academics and volleyball, and we’re very excited to provide the environment for him to do so here at UNB,” said Coach McMorran.
Vickers will pursue Engineering while attending UNB.