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Vancouver Island University

Season Openers: VIU at College of the Rockies

The defending conference champion Mariners battle last year's PACWEST top seed on their court to start the year

VIU Mariners vs COTR Avalanche men's volleyball
The Mariners put up the Great Wall of Wakesiah in a regular season game versus the COTR Avalanche in October 2023. Photo: Matt Carter
October 18, 2024

CRANBROOK, B.C. – The Mariners head out on their longest road trip of the regular season in Week #1 as they battle the COTR Avalanche.

 When & Where

  • Friday, October 18 at College of the Rockies, 7 p.m. Mountain Time / 6 p.m. Pacific Time
  • Saturday, October 19 at College of the Rockies, 2 p.m. Mountain Time / 1 p.m. Pacific Time

Tune In

Games will be streamed live on the COTR Athletics YouTube page. Streaming links can also be found on the PACWEST website and PACWEST.TV.

Head-To-Head

The Mariners and Avalanche split their season series in 2023-24 with each team winning 3-2 in Nanaimo in October and each team winning 3-1 in Cranbrook in January.

Watch Out Now

For the Avalanche, setter Boston Thiessen, outside hitter Diego Policarpo, and libero Reece Clarke give COTR a solid trio of returnees to lead the squad. 

For the Mariners, last year's conference digs leader Enrico Del Mundo is back to anchor the defense and a trio of returning Manitobans--Rylan Van Kooten, Owen Dyck, and Luke Sigurdson--will be leaned on for leadership.

Fresh Faces 

Five first-years have made the VIU roster, including Nanaimo middle Sem Van Duist, a redshirt last year. BC high school champions from South Kamloops, Gavin MacGregor and Rowan MacPherson, have travelled to the coast to join Ballenas Secondary graduate Nate Brown at VIU. Finally, 6'8" outside hitter Niklas Uhl, an exchange student from Germany, brings plenty of height and power to the team.

Transfers

There are no varsity transfers on this year's roster.

Fifth Years

Setter Luke Sigurdson, who provided the assist on the CCAA bronze-winning kill from Emerson Cooke last season, is the sole fifth-year on the roster. 

Coaches

Dr. Abe Avender, fresh off of accompanying the Canadian National Men's Volleyball Team to the Paris Olympics as a member of the medical team, returns as head coach alongside assistant Wayne Woyciehouski.

For more information, please contact VIU Mariners Communications & Sports Information Coordinator Matt Carter.