By Dan Marshall

VIU Mariners teams staying sharp over the Christmas Break

Dec 28, 2017 | 11:08 AM

NANAIMO — League play may be on hold for sports at Vancouver Island University, but the holidays are filled with exhibition games and tournaments.
 
The men’s and women’s volleyball teams are both in action at different tournaments.
 
It’s a yearly tradition that the Mariners women’s team heads to a warm destination for a post Christmas tournament.
 
They’ll be in San Diego playing matches against some top level competition from December 28 to January 2.
 
The men’s squad is at Douglas College this Thursday until Saturday in a tournament that will feature six of the top 15 team in the country.
 
After the new year the men are slated to host a home tournament as well.
 
Those matches will take place from January 2-4.
 
Men’s basketball will be hosting two exhibition matches this weekend with Mohawk from the OCAA in Ontario in Nanaimo Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The women’s squad will take a different approach traveling to Green River College, Willamette U, and George Fox University, they’ll be in Washington and Oregon Friday through Sunday.
 
Meanwhile, the badminton team couldn’t ask for a better location for their next event.
 
The Mariners will be competing at the Honululu Open January 5-7.
 
That same weekend the basketball teams are back to regular season action, and so is the VIU hockey squad.
 
A full schedule is available at mariners.viu.ca.
 
 
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
 
On twitter: @danmarshall77