Lady Avs setter Kendra Hainsworth (#12) passes the ball Friday afternoon during PACWEST semifinal action against Capilano University at Columbia Bible College.

Lady Avs setter Kendra Hainsworth (#12) passes the ball Friday afternoon during PACWEST semifinal action against Capilano University at Columbia Bible College.

Lady Avalanche advance to first PACWEST championship

College of the Rockies Avalanche women's volleyball team will play for the 2016 PACWEST championship; men look to advance

The College of the Rockies Avalanche women’s volleyball team has punched its ticket to the 2016 PACWEST championship match, knocking off the No. 2-seed Capilano University Blues Friday afternoon.

This marks the first time in program history the Lady Avalanche have advanced to the PACWEST provincial volleyball finale.

The sixth-ranked Lady Avs rolled to a 3-1 victory (25-21, 25-19, 14-25, 25-17) over Capilano in semifinal action after defeating the Camosun College Chargers Thursday afternoon to open the annual provincial tournament.

In her final kick at PACWEST glory, outside hitter Kelsey Thompson was named Player of the Match for the Lady Avs, registering 10 kills and 14 digs in Friday’s semifinal win.

The women’s championship contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Mountain) Saturday at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C., host site of the 2016 PACWEST Provincial Volleyball Championship.

The University of the Fraser Valley (No. 5) and top-ranked Vancouver Island University Mariners will compete in the other semifinal Friday for an opportunity to face the Lady Avs for provincial gold.

In men’s action, the Avalanche scored a 3-1 triumph (25-23, 16-25, 25-23, 26-24) over the fourth-ranked University of the Fraser Valley in quarter-final action Thursday evening and prepare for a semifinal tilt with top-seeded Camosun College Chargers Friday night at 9 p.m. (Mountain).

The winner between the Avs and Chargers will advance to the men’s championship, set for 9 p.m. (Mountain) Saturday evening.

The men’s bronze medal match is scheduled for 4 p.m. (Mountain) Saturday.

All games at the 2016 PACWEST Provincial Volleyball Championships are being streamed live online at sportscanada.tv/pacwest/.

Cranbrook Daily Townsman