Chargers Meet Royals

#3 Douglas Royals @ #2 Camosun Chargers – Friday February 24, 1:00pm MST | WATCH HERE

The 2023 PACWEST volleyball championship tournament opens up with a semi-final tilt between the second seeded Camosun Chargers and the defending champion, third seeded Douglas Royals on the women’s side of the bracket.

This should be a very even match-up with just two points separating these programs in the regular season. To further to this point, each team was 2-2 against the other during the season with their last meeting on January 14^th.

Two of the matches in the seasonal series went to a fifth set, once to a fourth set and the Chargers earned themselves a three-set sweep in the other meeting.

Offensively both teams can score with gifted student athletes.  The Chargers were led by Erica Bolink, Rilyn Boorman and Hannah May, each recording over 135 kills with Bolink being one of four athletes across the Conference to record over 200 kills.

The Royals saw outstanding production in kills from both Megan Jones and Payton Henderson during the regular season.  Their club was also very good from the service line with five athletes in the top 15 in aces; Henderson finishing with the second most in the Conference.

On the defensive side each team has tall, lengthy bodies with tremendous agility moving horizontal along the net.  Abbie Smith of the Royals led her club with 34 blocks and Gracie May recorded 30 for her Chargers.  Veteran leadership in the libero position adds strength to both teams’ defence.  Graduating senior Correina McNeice recorded 190 digs for the Chargers while Trisha He and Logan Richter quarterbacked the Royals backend.

This will be the second consecutive season these two programs meet in a PACWEST semi-final.  Last year the Royals made quick work of the Chargers in a three-set sweep to move onto the gold medal match.  The stakes are a bit higher in this match as well with a potential berth in the CCAA national championship tournament also the line.  If the VIU Mariners win their semi-final, then the winner of the Royals-Chargers match will earn a spot in the nationals since the Mariners are the hosts.

Head-to-Head

Records: Royals 13-7 – Chargers 14-6
Sets Won: Royals 44 – Chargers 50
Sets Lost: Royals 31 – Chargers 25

Kill Leaders: Payton Henderson 200 (Royals) – Erica Bolink 230 (Chargers)

Block Leaders: Abbie Smith 34 (Royals) – Gracie May 30 (Chargers)

Digs Leaders:  Megan Jones 133 (Royals) – Correina McNeice 190 (Chargers)