Comox Valley talent has helped the Camosun College Chargers men's and women's volleyball teams and Vancouver Island University Mariners women's team advance to the CCAA national championships.
Camosun hosted the PACWEST championships this past weekend, where the men, with Rian Plante of Comox, won gold and the women, with Hilary Graham of Courtenay, scooped silver. VIU teams were also in the medals. The men, with fifth-year middle/left side Rylan Brouwer of Courtenay won bronze and the women, with first-year libero Mychaela Roelants of Comox, won gold.
Two other Comox players earned medals as Hilary McLoughlin (third-year left side) and the Capilano Blues women finished third while Angus Ireland (third-year setter) and the Douglas College Royals men won silver.
The Mariners defended their PACWEST women’s volleyball title in Saturday’s action-packed gold medal game against the Chargers. In the process, they denied the top-seeded Chargers their first-ever conference championship.
Both teams advance to the CCAA national championships, March 12-14 at Cégep Edouard-Montpetit in Longueuil, Que. VIU is the second seed at the eight-team event while the Chargers are #4.
In the men’s PACWEST final, the Chargers, the top seed at nationals, forged their way to an electrifying four-set victory over the nation’s top-ranked team, Ireland's Royals. Plante, a second-year right side, was named to the tournament all-star team. Both players are Highland Secondary grads.
It was the Chargers second at-home PACWEST provincial title. The Chargers are now off to the CCAA national championships hosted by Holland College in Charlottetown, PEI, on March 12-14.
Fans can follow the Chargers' schedule at ccaa.ca and watch the action on ccaa.tv.