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VIU Mariners women’s volleyball still on track for perfect season

Jan 17, 2019 | 10:01 PM

NANAIMO – The VIU Mariners Women’s Volleyball team continues to roll along with a perfect 16-0 record in the 2018-19 PACWEST season.

VIU is the defending national champion, and the last time they lost a match was in the gold medal game of the 2018 provincials last February.

They face the team that beat them in the provincials, the Douglas Royals, on Friday and Saturday this week.

The Mariners and Royals are two of the top three teams in the CCAA national rankings with VIU number one and Douglas coming in at three.

In league play the Royals are 12-4 but head to head the Mariners haven’t dropped a set to their PACWEST rivals this year.

Taylor Wickson is in her second year at VIU and says they won’t be taking Douglas lightly.

“They’ve always been one of the top competitors against us in the league. We really need to show up and play our best ball,” said Wickson.

There’s only three weeks left for the Mariners and Wickson says the players are aware that they’re on pace for a perfect season.

Because of the success the VIU program has enjoyed, all of the Mariners goals are geared towards playoffs.

“It all comes down to provincials. If we win that semi final we go to nationals, and nationals is really the end goal for us,” explained Wickson.

 

 

Coach Shane Hyde has had a team go through a perfect season before, his 2008 team was unbeaten through the PACWEST schedule, provincials, and nationals.

“In 2008 we had a very special team, and this is close to that team if not better,” Hyde said. “We’ve got so much depth, and athleticism, and height, and power. There’s just so much to be thankful for, and they’re great kids.”

 

 

The Mariners are at Douglas College Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. Then they wrap up the PACWEST season with matches against UFV and Camosun.

 

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77