Vancouver Island University’s volleyball program won a pair of provincial championships.
The VIU Mariners men’s and women’s v-ball teams both captured gold at the Pacific Western Athletic Association championships this past weekend, Feb. 23-24, in New Westminster.
The men’s final was incredible drama, as the host Douglas Royals team got ahead two sets to none, but VIU came all the way back for the reverse sweep, 20-25, 13-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-12.
Luca Torres had 20 kills including the match winner, with Rylan Van Kooten adding 12 kills.
Torres was chosen tournament MVP, with Van Kooten, Daniel Mascarenhas and Owen Dyck selected as all-stars.
The Mariners needed the win to make it to nationals, as one of the PacWest’s berths at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships was already assured for the host Camosun Chargers. Nationals start March 7 at Victoria’s Pacific Institute for Sport Education.
In women’s action, the Mariners were the class of the PacWest, breezing to a straight-sets victory over the Capilano Blues in the final, 25-19, 25-16, 25-16.
It was a complete effort, as the Mariners’ offence “had too many weapons to defend,” noted a PacWest press release, adding that on defence, the Mariners “got to seemingly every ball the Blues sent over the net. They took pride in their digs and their net play frustrated the Blues hitters.”
VIU’s balanced attack led by setter Linnea Brickwood saw Grace Brisebois, Aimee Skinner and Regan Ingram each record eight kills. Brickwood was chosen MVP with Skinner, Emma Schill and Kiana Gelissen selected as all-stars.
The CCAA women’s volleyball championships will be held in Red Deer, Alta, starting March 6.
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