By Dan Marshall

Both VIU volleyball teams hold byes into provincial semi finals

Feb 21, 2018 | 9:34 AM

NANAIMO — Both VIU Mariners volleyball teams are going into provincials this weekend in Abbotsford.
 
The men go in as the number one seed and the women are ranked second.
 
That means both squads get a bye into the semi finals on Friday.
 
Abe Avender’s mens side finished the season at 20-4 which is especially impressive give heavy roster turnover.
 
“With eight new faces we were weren’t sure at the start of the season how it would be. I knew we had good talent, but to see how well we’ve gelled, and our high end this year is really good,” said Avender.
 
The men will play the winner of the Douglas College versus University of the Fraser Valley quarter final on Thursday.

VIU goes into the semi final with a perfect 4-0 record against Douglas and they finished 3-1 in their matches with UFV in the regular season.

Avender says he has full confidence in his side no matter who they play in the semi’s, or if they’re fortunate enough to advance into Saturday’s final.

“With the talent that we have and the quality that we put out everyday, if we play our side really well – I really don’t care who’s on the other side of the net. I don’t mean that in the ego way, I just mean it in the sense that if we play our top match and stay in a game plan I think our opportunities are always really good with the crew we have,” said Avender.   
 
VIU’s womens team will play the winner of the University of the Fraser Valley against College of the Rockies quarter final.
 
The 18-6 women had identical 3-1 records against their possible semi final opponents.
 
Earlier this month coach Shane Hyde’s team lost three of four matches, which is a rarity for the power house program, but Hyde believes that rut may have happened at a good time.
 
He notes his squad bounced back with a solid ending to the regular season.
 
“We’ve had so much adversity all season long that this is all a test for us for the big matches,” explained Hyde. “Our team is not designed to win one match here or there, our team is designed to win provincials and win nationals – that’s always our goal.”
 
Hyde isn’t looking at past the semi final but if the matches at provincials play out according to form it would set up a one versus two final between the Mariners and Douglas Royals.
 
The VIU coach admits he would relish a chance to redeem a recent regular season loss to Douglas if that scenario played out.
 
“We played by far our worst matches of the season against Douglas,” said Hyde. “We would love to have that opportunity to get back and play that team.”
 
Semi final action from the UFV gym in Abbotsford goes at 1 p.m. Friday for the womens team and then at 8 p.m. for the men.
 
Saturday the gold medal matches go back to back starting at 6 p.m.
 
 
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
 
On twitter: @danmarshall77