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Top seeded VIU Mariners host PACWEST Volleyball Provincials

Feb 23, 2017 | 8:53 AM

NANAIMO — Vancouver Island University will host the PACWEST Volleyball Provincials this week.
 
Both the Mariners Men’s and Women’s teams also enter as tournament favourites. The men won the PACWEST with a record of 21-3 while the women topped the standings at 19-5. It’s been a while since VIU has hosted the provincial championship – the last time was in 2008 when the teams were known as the Malaspina Mariners.
 
Men’s Head Coach Abe Avender says the school has done a great job preparing for the event so the players and coaches can keep their focus on the court.
 
“It’s been really nice,” said Avender. “Our new Athletic Director Stephanie White, she’s said you look after coaching and we’ll look after the event. So there hasn’t been a ton of pressure on us that way to get everything going.”
 
The VIU teams will have everyone gunning for them as the hosts and the number one seeds. 
 
Women’s Head Coach Shane Hyde says the fact that his team is the defending national champion only adds to that.
 
“We’ve got the target on our back, and sometimes playing at home is a great thing because it’s the court train on and you have your home fans. Saying that sometimes there’s added pressure with that, and you don’t have as much control of your athletes,” said Hyde.
 
As the top seeds the Mariners will watch the quarter finals on Thursday and prepare for the semis on Friday night.
 
Avender says the men will play the winner of Thursday’s match between College of the Rockies and Douglas College.
 
“I’ll be there to scout them but one philosophy we’ve lived by this year was that it’s our side of the court and we’ll look after our side and whoever’s on the other side will do as they do,” said Avender.
 
The Mariners were 4-0 against COTR and finished 3-1 versus Douglas. The women have a similar record against their potential semi final opponents. VIU was 3-1 versus the College of the Rockies and 4-0 against the University of the Fraser Valley.
 
Scheduling wise coach Hyde says this week will be very similar to the regular season.
 
“It’s a 6 p.m. match on Friday, and we know that’s the time. It’s the exact same time we’d play in a league match. So all of our prep will be the same in terms of the schedule, the timing, and we’ll know our opponent on Thursday night,” said Hyde.
 
A total of four quarter final matches will run on Thursday at VIU from 1 p.m. until around 10 p.m. and that schedule will continue right through Saturday night’s gold medal game.
 
Results will be available at mariners.viu.ca or pacwestbc.ca.
 
Wednesday the PACWEST released it’s season award winners and the Mariners were well represented with Braydon Brouwer winning Men’s Player of the Year, and Megan Rosenlund taking home Women’s Player of the Year. Both were also first team all-stars. Men’s Coach Ave Avender was honoured with the PACWEST the Coach of the Year award.
 
On the Men’s side Zach Grigg was a first team all-star, Wayne Woyciehouski made the second team, and Jeff Webb was on the all-rookie team.
 
With the Women Mikayla Wager made the first team, Chantal Cummings was on the second team and Sadie Wilson was selected to the all-rookie team
 
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Weekend Sports
 
BCHL
Clippers vs Victoria – Friday 7 p.m. Frank Crane Arena
Clippers @ Victoria – Saturday 7 p.m. The Q Centre
 
BCMML
Silvertips vs Vancouver NE Chiefs – Saturday 4:45 p.m. Frank Crane Arena
Silvertips vs Vancouver NE Chiefs – Sunday 8 a.m. Frank Crane Arena
 
PACWEST
Provincial Volleyball Championships – Thursday to Saturday VIU Gymnasium
 
Times Cup Island Rugby Championship
Nanaimo Hornets vs Port Alberni Black Sheep – Saturday 1 p.m. May Bennett Pioneer Park
 

dan.marshall@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @danmarshall77