Weekend Preview: On a Long and Lonesome Highway

NANAIMO - Following the legendary longest road trip in the PACWEST from Vancouver Island to Cranbrook, the Mariners will look to shake out the travel rust and earn two wins over the host College of the Rockies Avalanche.

Who, When & Where

• VIU Mariners (12-4, second in the PACWEST, CCAA ranked #5) vs COTR Avalanche (6-10, tied for third in the PACWEST)
• Friday, February 6 at College of the Rockies, Cranbrook, 5 pm Mountain / 4 pm Pacific
• Saturday, February 7 at College of the Rockies, 12 pm Mountain / 11 am Pacific

Tune In

Games are streamed on the COTR Avalanche Athletics YouTube page.

Head-To-Head

VIU took both matches over COTR at home in the fall semester: 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-20) on October 30 and 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-10, 25-19) on October 31.

The Mariners are 4-2 in 2026 so far but have won their last three games. The Avalanche are 2-4 in the spring semester and both swept and lost in straight sets against the Camosun Chargers last weekend. 

Watch Out Now

COTR: Stevie Friesen sits second in the conference with 3.08 digs per set. Cranbrook native Eloise Newsome leads the COTR hit parade with 2.47 kills per set.

VIU: Libero Jordy Exner was named VIU and PACWEST women's volleyball athlete of the week last week. She was also named a CCAA athlete of the week. Alannah Wright leads the conference in aces.

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