The VIU Mariners captured double gold medals in PACWEST volleyball at provincials Feb. 23-24. (VIU Mariners)

By Dan Marshall

Double Gold

VIU Mariners men and women capture PACWEST volleyball gold

Feb 25, 2024 | 8:48 AM

NEW WESTMINSTER — The VIU Mariners won double gold at the PACWEST volleyball provincials.

Both the men’s and women’s teams started their tournaments with semifinal appearances against Camosun.

The men recorded a four set victory over the two time defending national champions to earn their spot in the final while the women went up two sets but had to survive a rally by the Chargers to win in five sets on Feb. 23.

Once the top seeded Mariners women survived that scare they were dominant in the gold medal match.

VIU swept third seeded Capilano three sets to none.

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The men had to go five sets to earn their gold medal.

VIU was matched up against the lowest seed, the hosts from Douglas College.

Douglas jumped out to a two set lead before the Mariners fought back back to win 15-12 in a dramatic final set.

Men’s coach Abe Avender said VIU’s depth was the difference in engineering the comeback.

“The first couple of sets didn’t go our way so we made a couple of changes and it changed the vibe and I figured we jut need to win one set.”

It won’t be far to travel for the men’s squad for the CCAA nationals as Camosun is hosting down in Victoria.

“I’m super proud of this group and the team we are and where we’re going,” Avender said. “I look forward, if we keep doing what we’re doing, to hoisting the first mien’s volleyball national championship banner at VIU.”

The women will move on to Red Deer going after their fifth national championship in six years.

March 6 is opening day for the CCAA women’s nationals and the men’s event is a day later on March 7.

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