KELOWNA, BC – The University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus is ready to welcome the best male and female collegiate volleyball teams from around the province starting Thursday afternoon, the first match is set for 1:00pm when the third seed, Capilano University Blues women’s volleyball squad will face off against the sixth seeded Columbia Bible College Bearcats from Abbotsford. The Blues will be led by longtime coach Wayne Desjardins, first team all-star Michelle Torresan, second team all-star Ashley Cousens and All-rookie team member Sydney Thornton. The Bearcats are coached by Janelle Rozema and although the Bearcats are a team made up of mostly first year players they boast 2 fourth year players, Hannah Antonio and middle Mariel Eberts to help the young team in their first round matchup. The winner will go on to the semi-final versus the Vancouver Island Mariners Friday at 1:00pm. The Mariners, the second seed, spent over two month’s ranked first in the nation and will bring with them four all-stars players. The two first team all-stars are Cheyla Reader and Lindsay McLoughlin the second teamers are setter Dani Smith and third year middle blocker Jacqueline Doleman, the team is coached by Shane Hyde.
At 3:00pm Thursday the third and sixth seeded men’s teams will lock horns, as coach of the year Rocky Olfert will drive his third seeded CBC Bearcats all the way from Abbotsford to play the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades another Abbotsford school. The Bearcats boast fourth year first team all-star, Matt Kaminski, the Cascades will counter with the sixth ranked offensive player and second team all-star, Aaron Flanagan. The winner of this matchup will take on the Douglas College Royals Friday at 3:00pm. The Royals, the second seed are coached by Brad Hudson and boast two all-stars. Jeff Taylor a first team all-star and athlete of the week winner is joined on the all-star team as fourth year setter, Kaleb Dawe was honoured with a second team all-star.
Thursday evening will see the fourth seeded women Cascades take on the Camosun College Chargers, the fifth seed, from Victoria at 6:00pm. The Cascades feature one first team all-star and one second team all-star, Kayla Bruce and Brittany Stewart respectively. The Chargers are led by Rookie of the year and second team all-star Elizabeth Davis, plus another member of the women’s rookie team in first year setter from Penticton, Susanna Campbell. The victor of this matchup will move on the second women’s semi-final to face off against the number one seed and home team, the UBC Okanagan Heat Friday at 6:00pm. The Heat women’s team are the two time defending provincial and national champions and will look to defend their title on their home court. Led by head coach Steve Manuel, who in 2011 has won his fourth BCCAA coach of the year award, will bring with him a team that has lost only one match to a collegiate foe in over two years. The Heat boast the BCCAA Player of the Year in Caitlin Nyhus, a fifth year setter from Penticton BC. In her third year is fellow first team all-star and herself a former BCCAA player of the year and the 2010 national player of the year, Alex Basso. Newcomer to the Heat Myrte Schön, made the second all-star team as an outside hitter for the Heat.
The last match of Thursday night will feature two men’s teams at 8:00pm, and will see the fourth seeded Vancouver Island Mariners face the Avalanche from Cranbrook’s College of the Rockies. The Mariners bring with them the BCCAA rookie of the year in left side hitter, Rylan Brower, and he will square off against another talented rookie in the Avalanches outside hitter, Jeremais Guenter, himself a member of the rookie team. The winner of this Thursday night matchup will face the number one ranked UBC Okanagan Heat Friday night at 8:00pm. The Heat placed three players on the first all-star team, outside hitter Greg Niemantsverdriet, national player of the year, Nate Speijer and the 2011 BCCAA Player of the Year, fourth year setter Preston Tucker. The Heat are coached by 2010 national coach of the year, Greg Poitras.
For live webcasts and game results go to: goheat.ca/volleyball
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