Home is Where the Hard Hits
VIU takes two wins over the Royals in a weekend full of big spikes and big blocks
NANAIMO - In a tight race for postseason spots, the Mariners did themselves a world of good with two exciting wins over the Douglas Royals.
JANUARY 30: VIU 3 Douglas 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-15)
Carter Munro and Rylan Van Kooten led the way for VIU in a three-set weekend opening sweep versus Douglas.
The two outside hitters finished with 12 total offensive points: Munro with 12 kills and Van Kooten, who was named Country Club Dairy Queen player of the game, with 11 kills and a block.
Setter Owen Dyck contributed 4 kills and 2 aces and libero Enrico Del Mundo earned a team-high 18 digs.
JANUARY 31: VIU 3 Douglas 1 (25-17, 25-15, 18-25, 25-21)
The block party was in full effect in Saturday's rematch as the Mariners earned 18 blocks on the way to a four-set win.
Middles Kieran Paauwe and Rowan MacPherson earned 5 blocks each while Van Kooten added 4 of his own. Van Kooten also led the Mariners with 14 kills and 19 total offensive points.
Del Mundo earned 16 digs and was named VIU's Country Club Dairy Queen player of the game. On Monday, he was also named VIU men's volleyball athlete of the week.
Up Next
VIU (9-7) finishes off the regular season with a road trip to face the conference leading COTR Avalanche (14-2) on February 6 and 7 and home games against the last-place CBC Bearcats (3-13) on February 13 and 14.
The Mariners are tightly bunched in the standings with Capilano (8-8), Camosun (7-9), and Douglas (7-9). Every team has four games remaining and only three will join COTR in the conference postseason.
For more information, please contact VIU Mariners Communications & Sports Information Coordinator Matt Carter.