The VIU Mariners women’s volleyball team got a rare opportunity to celebrate a championship on their home court.
The M’s defeated the Douglas Royals in straight sets to win the PacWest provincial title on Saturday night at the VIU gym. In the men’s gold-medal match afterward, VIU’s men fell in four sets to the Camosun Chargers.
The Mariners women won by scores of 25-21, 25-20, 25-17 to earn gold.
“I think everyone was just at another level,” said Andrea Cankovic, M’s all-star. “We haven’t been playing like this all season and now at the end, all the hard work paid off.”
The M’s said before the match that the Royals were a national-calibre opponent, and so top-seeded VIU expected to be challenged.
“We knew we were going to get blocked and we knew we were going to have some straight-down kills from Douglas coming at us,” said Catie Hegglin, M’s all-star. “I think we did a really good job of shaking it off and knowing we’ve got the next one and just playing in the present.”
Shane Hyde, VIU coach, said it was awesome to watch the two teams trading huge hits. He pointed out that the stakes were higher than usual for a provincial final with just one berth at nationals on the line.
“It was win at all costs,” he said. “We had to win this match in order to go to nationals … I’m super proud. I’m not the easiest coach to play for; I demand so much from the athletes.”
Winning on home court made the accomplishment even more special, he said.
“I love, love playing in front of a VIU crowd. It’s the best in the country,” Hyde said.
Hegglin was chosen player of the game in the final and VIU’s Mikayla Wagner was selected tournament MVP.
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships will be held at Victoria’s Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence starting March 9.
Mariners men also bound for nationals
VIU’s men weren’t able to add a provincial title to their first-place season, as they were denied by the Chargers, now three-time defending PacWest champs. Scores were 17-25, 26-24, 28-26, 25-17.
Abe Avender, Mariners coach, said his team made too many errors.
“It hurts when you feel like you beat yourself a lot,” he said. “They’re a good team and they stepped up and they used that momentum; that’s what you do … but that’s the big disappointment for us.”
Braydon Brouwer and Zach Grigg were chosen tournament all-stars.
VIU’s men did achieve one of their goals at provincials; their silver medals come with a berth in the CCAA championships in London, Ont. starting March 9.
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