The VIU Mariners’ women’s volleyball team got off to a slow start to the season, losing five of their first six contests. But since the slow start, the team has been on fire climbing up the PacWest standings.
The Mariners traveled to the mainland for their most recent games. The team was in New Westminster to take on the Douglas College Royals on February 6 and 7.
In the first game between the two teams, the Mariners won the opening set by a score of 25-13. VIU expanded their lead to 2-0 by winning the second set 25-12. The third set was a more tightly contested affair, but the Mariners were able to complete the sweep, winning the set 25-17.
The two teams were back in action the next day. The Mariners won the match’s opening set again. The Royals mounted a comeback in the second set, winning the set 25-23 to tie the match. But the Mariners proved to be too much for the hometown Royals, as the Mariners won the match’s final two sets 25-16 and 25-17 to take both games between the two teams.
The Mariners were also able to win both of their last two home games on January 30 and 31 against the visiting Capilano Blues. On the Friday, the Mariners picked up a three-set sweep, winning the first two sets 25-20 and 25-9 before winning the third set in a tiebreaker 29-27. The next day the Mariners picked up the victory in four sets.
The Mariners have currently won their last five games in a row. VIU has only lost three sets during the five-game run. The Mariners have also won 11 of their last 12 games, losing only seven sets over those 12 games.
The Mariners currently sit in third place in the PacWest standings. The team’s 13-7 record gives them 26 points on the season, two points behind the second place Blues, and four points ahead of the second place University Fraser Valley Cascades.
The Mariners only have four games left before the end of the PacWest season. Three of those games are at home. The Mariners take on the Cascades on Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 pm and Friday, February 12 at 6 pm. Thursday, February 19 the team plays their final home game of the season against the Camosun Chargers at 6 pm in the VIU gym.
