PACWEST Spike Night: Chargers @ Mariners
The Island Rivalry to put a bow on this season
One of the best rivalries in PACWEST volleyball will highlight the regular season finale when the VIU Mariners (19-3) welcome the Camosun Chargers (12-10).
They are the hottest teams in the Conference, winning a combined 13 straight and want to head into the PACWEST championship tournament with a win.
The Mariners are atop the standings, four points up on Capilano. A win on Friday against the Chargers will secure first place and a bye in round one of the championship tournament. They are playing at such a high level coming into this weekend, winners of seven in a row.
Offensively the two-headed monster of Braydon Brouwer and Jeff Webb has caused a number of match-up issues for opposing defences. They are both averaging over three kills a set. Webb has played in 84 sets while Brouwer only 66. When they faced the Chargers in Week 1, Webb tallied 31 kills and Brouwer had 23.
Speaking of Week 1 the Chargers played with an ineligible player which ultimately forced them to forfeit their matches to the Mariners 3-0 and 3-0. During those matches however their offence was led by Jerome Cross who tallied 21 kills and Spencer Janzen chipped in with 18.
The Chargers have won six straight matches and are trying to hold off the Douglas Royals for third in the Conference. The three-time defending champs can’t finish above third place and are currently just two points up on the Royals who hold the tie-breaker against the Chargers after beating them in three of their four matches this year.
Whenever the Island rivalry gets together, the crowd is energized and the players will feed off that. Friday night they hit the floor at 8:00pm, then Saturday at 3:00pm in a matinee tilt.