Cignal has acquired relatively unknown spiker Jared Schnake ahead of the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference — and the young Fil-American is eager to make his mark.
Joining the winningest squad in Spikers’ Turf history, the 6-foot-1 wing spiker from Riverside, California aims to help Cignal defend its crown when the Invitational Conference kicks off on October 27 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Schnake made his first public appearance on Monday during the league’s press conference at Discovery Suites in Ortigas, where he met representatives from the other seven competing teams.
“I’m extremely excited. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, and I want to prove myself. They’re the champions, and I want to help them defend that title,” said the 21-year-old hitter.
(C) Spikers’ Turf
Before coming to the Philippines, Schnake played three seasons with the University of California, Merced, where he earned a spot on the 2024 All-Cal Pac Second Team.
Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor discovered Schnake during one of Alas Pilipinas Men’s tune-up matches in the United States, eventually recruiting him to bolster the Super Spikers’ already stacked lineup.
Now, Schnake is embracing both the expectations and the challenge of joining a team that has captured the last three Spikers’ Turf championships.
“It’s actually going really smoothly. They’re like a second family to me here, and it’s nice — we’re getting along really well,” he shared.
“I’ve got to give it my all. I’m one of the youngest guys on the team, so I have to prove myself a little more. I just hope we win again.”
