Mariners volleyball takes third at nationals

The VIU Mariners earned bronze this past week at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships in Victoria.

VIU’s women’s volleyball team didn’t win it all, but they ended with a win.

The Vancouver Island University Mariners earned bronze this past week at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships at Victoria’s Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence.

VIU defeated the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves in four sets Saturday, 22-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-11 for a podium finish at nationals.

Andrea Cankovic was player of the match with 15 kills and 11 digs. Megan Rosenlund also had 15 kills and 11 digs.

The Mariners were playing their second match of the day, as they handled the Lynx d’Edouard Montpetit in straight sets, 27-25, 25-14, 26-24 to make it to the bronze-medal match.

VIU was eliminated from championship contention the night before in a straight-sets loss to the eventual national-champion Lakeland Rustlers, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21.

Lakeland beat the host Camosun Chargers in the gold-medal match in four sets, 25-20, 25-20, 17-25, 26-24.

VIU’s Mikayla Wagner was a first-team all-star and Rosenlund was a second-team all-star.

Meanwhile, VIU’s men’s volleyball team, playing at nationals in London, Ont., lost its placing game Saturday to the Medicine Hat Rattlers in straight sets, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20.

Braydon Brouwer was a second-team all-star for the Mariners at the tournament.

Nanaimo News Bulletin