As the provincial championships get closer, the Mariners’ play keeps getting better. The team split their two games this past weekend, but had won six in a row coming into the weekend.
The Mariners traveled to Abbotsford for games against the Fraser Valley University Cascades on January 23 and 24.
The Cascades took an early lead in the first match between the two teams, winning the first two sets to take a commanding lead. But they battled back, winning the third set before evening the match by winning the fourth set in a tie breaker 27-25. The Mariners looked to complete the comeback in the fifth set and extend their four-game winning streak. But it was the Cascades who picked up the 15-11 fifth set victory in front of the home crowd.
The two teams took the court for the rematch the following day. This time the Mariners won the first set 25-20. The Mariners dominated the next set, winning by a score of 25-9. The Mariners tried to end the match in the third set, but the Cascades managed to stay alive with the 25-23 victory. In the fourth set, the Cascades attempted to extend the match, but the Mariners picked up the 25-21 victory, winning the match 3-1.
The Mariners also picked up back-to-back 3-0 victories in their first two home games of the season on January 16 and 17 against the Columbia Bible College Bearcats.
The Mariners’ 9-8 record gives the team 18 points on the season, good for fourth place in the PacWest standings. VIU is only two points behind the Cascades for third place.
VIU is back in action at home January 30 and 31 as the Mariners take on the visiting Capilano Blues. Action begins at 6 pm, January 30, and 1 pm on January 31.