Empower athlete Paul Duerden has been with the National Volleyball team for 15 years.  He has played in 4 World Championships, 3 World Cups, earned 5 professional league titles, and the highlight of his career thus far would be winning the European Champions League 2001 (the pinnacle of professional volleyball).  He is the epitomy of excellence in sport and his physical training is no exception.  He has been trained by the National Volleyball Men's team strength coach Kari Schneider for 9 years-4 of which were at the Empower Facility.  Upon retiring from the National Team he needed to stay in top physical condition in order to continue to play professional volleyball.  Kari trained him for 4 months to rehabilitate him from his previous season and prepare him optimally for this season.  He is currently tearing it up on court.  If you are wondering how he is doing on court- check his stats on line. This is no small feat for an athlete playing a body-beating sport like volleyball for this many years!  

Yes it's true volleyball fans!  Paul Duerden, #9, is back in Turkey for another season with Arkas volleyball!  Last season they won the league TURKISH CUP and made it to the European Final Four!  What happened you ask? They won-with Paul earning MVP! The 2009-2010 season will be starting soon so watch for the season opener! Check back for more updates and watch for Paul's Volleyball Tip of the Month!  

 

 

   Empower Athlete Marie-Christine Pruneau has been an exceptional athlete during her impressive career.  As Captain of her Sherbrooke University Team in 06-07 and 07-08 with a National Championship for the team in 2005 and an impressive Beach volleyball career it was a natural transition for M.C. to make the Women's National Volleyball Team.  Her versatility is very impressive due to the fact that she usually plays as a hitter (right-side currently for her pro team in France) but plays for the National Team as a Libero!  She has worked with Kari Schneider for the last 2 National seasons and is a hard working athlete that loves to learn and challenge herself.  Here is what M.C. has to say about Empower..."Training at Empower for the last 2 years has been great.  The programs are designed to improve the athletes strength and speed with everything in place to perform.  The gym has a perfect set up for training the way we need to and the staff are always helpful to answer questions."

 Empower athlete Tammy Mahon has been with Canada's National Team for 7 years and was named team Captain last summer.  Highlights in the past years have been FISU games in Korea (2003), Grand Prix in Italy, NORCECA Championships last September in Winnipeg, and Olympic Qualifier last December.  She played 5 years at University of Manitoba and won 2 national championships.  Tammy played 5 years overseas in Orebro, Sweden,  Amstelveen, Netherlands,  Weert, Netherlands and Constanta, Romania which is currently in second place with CS VOLEI 2004 in Romania.

"I have been training under Kari Schneider since my first year with national team in 2002.  At first Kari took the time to teach me a lot about technique and increased my knowledge with strength and conditioning related to my sport.  She continues to teach me new things every season, pushing me to become the best that I can be.  She has made programs that best fit my body type and the type of training I need.  In  volleyball every position is different, every player needs something different to gain the best results.  Kari and her staff take the time to make individual programs for each position and individual exercises for each player depending on our strengths and weaknesses. For me, the best thing about working with Kari and her staff is that they are just as committed to excellence and to the dream of each athlete as the athletes themselves.  You know when you walk in the door at Empower it is time to work, and the hours spent there are just as important as the hours spent on court."

Empower athlete Alexandre Gaumont Casias has been with the National Volleyball team since 2004.  He was with the National Full Time Training Center (training at Empower) in 2006-2007, playing professionally in Thesaloniki, Greece (PAOK) in 2007-2008 and in Rennes, France (Rennes Volley 35) in 2008-2009.  He is a powerful Right Side who always brings energy and intensity to the match.

    "I have been working with the Staff of Empower since the summer of 2004 up to this day. They have helped me reach a physical level which surpassed the expectations I had at the beginning. One of the great things about Empower and Kari, is that I have learned to always push my progression further, always beat my personal best. If I work hard today, I will be better tomorrow but still I can be better the day after tomorrow if I keep working hard. The best thing for me with Empower and Kari, is the relation of trust. I have never second guessed them, they are very professional and the workouts they have built for me are a major asset in my quest to become a great athlete."