Is This Deja Vu?

#3 VIU Mariners @ #1 Camosun Chargers – Saturday February 25, 8:00pm MST | WATCH HERE

It’s a rematch of last season’s PACWEST gold medal match when the Chargers and Mariners duke it out on Saturday in the final Conference volleyball match of the year.

Last year the Chargers as the third seed dropped the first two sets to the top ranked Mariners before roaring back to win the next three advancing to the nationals, which they also won.  The seedings are reversed this season with the Chargers at the top and the Mariners at number three.

On Friday the Chargers advanced to the gold medal match courtesy of a three-set sweep over the fourth seeded Douglas Royals showing their balanced offensive punch.  Their defence was also outstanding, not allowing the Royals to generate much of a rhythm.   

The Mariners advanced to the gold match thanks to a sweep as well and looked good upsetting the second seeded COTR Avalanche.  They had a very solid approach and were very confident in an emotional battle with the hosts.   

With their semi-final victories the Chargers and Mariners have already qualified for the CCAA national championship in two weeks at Humber College in Toronto.  With the recent success of the PACWEST on the national stage the Conference has earned a wildcard spot, which means both these programs will be there.  The Chargers are the defending national champs.

During the regular season the Chargers won all four meetings with the Mariners.  Three of those in the fourth set and they tallied a three-set sweep.  Their last meeting was two weeks ago so they are very familiar with each other.

These programs have met in four of the last five seasons in the PACWEST gold medal match with the Chargers winning three of them including last year.  The Mariners lone win was in 2019, which was also the last time the championship tournament was hosted at the College of the Rockies.