Vancouver Island University’s women’s volleyball team, off to an impressive start, is considered the team to beat this year.
The Mariners (6-0) are tied for first in the Pacific Western Athletic Association, but the Canadian Colleges’ Athletic Association played tiebreaker and ranked the M’s No. 1 in the country this week.
Alberta’s Mount Royal Cougars, defending national champions, are ranked No. 2.
VIU had a relatively easy time staying undefeated in conference play this past weekend, defeating the Douglas Royals Friday and Saturday at the Vancouver Island University gym by scores of 25-7, 25-12, 25-23 the first night, then 25-7, 25-12, 25-18 the following afternoon.
En route to winning their six matches this fall, the M’s have dropped only one set.
The Mariner men, meanwhile, ended this past weekend on a positive. After losing their first match of the season Friday against the Royals, 25-18, 25-27, 2-24, 25-21, the VIU men won Saturday’s rematch by scores of 18-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-14.
GAME ON … Both VIU’s women’s and men’s teams are on the road this weekend to face the Fraser Valley Cascades. The Mariners will be back home Nov. 18-19 versus the Capilano Blues.
