Shane Hyde and the Mariners women's volleyball team have three of the last four PACWEST gold medals and two consecutive CCAA gold medals.  (PACWEST)

By Dan Marshall

Volleyball Dynasty

Women’s VIU volleyball program earns true dynasty status

Feb 27, 2020 | 4:38 PM

NANAIMO — In team sports, dynasties are extremely rare.

The Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers, Tom Brady’s New England Patriots and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls are examples of teams that have earned that distinction.

Shane Hyde’s volleyball program at Vancouver Island University doesn’t have that level of profile, but it does qualify in terms of excellence.

On Feb. 22 the Mariners won their third straight PACWEST title by beating Camosun 3-1.

In the last 10 years VIU has won the provincial title six times, finished runner-up three times and earned one bronze.

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Hyde said the Mariners legacy goes back to when the team used to be the Malaspina Mariners.

“This team has medalled at provincials for pretty much three decades. That’s impressive. The legacy is more than just one or two of these players who are on our team currently. The reason we’re winning is this long cherished history of a dynasty.”

The Mariners dominance at the CCAA nationals is quite similar.

When they head to Garneau, Quebec on Mar. 12, VIU will be going after a third consecutive national championship and fourth in five years.

Only two other programs have ever won three or more straight titles, Garneau and Sherbrooke, QC.

Hyde’s teams were runners up three times to Garneau in the early 2000’s and he wasn’t sure if the Mariners program would ever get over the hump.

“When I first took over 19 years ago Quebec teams had won for 23 straight years. We were the first team that stopped than run in 2008.”

Now VIU is in the same class as those other great programs.

The Mariners journey towards the CCAA title in 2020 began months ago.

Hyde said each year includes a retreat where the players talk about what it’s like to be a national championship team.

The group keeps the same routine throughout the season and there’s no deviation once the national championship arrives, just a reinforcement of what the group has been working towards.

“We try to find some some kind of sightseeing activities and have fun while they’re there because we know there’s a chance that we’re going to be upset.”

It will take a massive effort for any team to end the Mariners run. They aren’t just heading to nationals as the BC champions, they’re also the top ranked team in the country.

Over the years accolades have poured in for the program, for Hyde and for the players.

While the Mariners were away at provincials the VIU men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball teams were honoured for their 2019 successes with a Nanaimo Sport Achievement Award for Sports Story of the Year.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77