Dethroning Queens

VIU Mariners vs. Red Deer Queens – Thursday March 7, 7:00pm PST | WATCH HERE

With a quick three-set sweep over the ACAA champion UKC Blue Devils on Wednesday, the PACWEST champion Mariners advance to the CCAA national semi-final and face the host Red Deer Queens on Thursday night.

The Mariners dominated their quarterfinal win over the Blue Devils winning 25-10, 25-22 and 25-14 yesterday.  Regan Ingram led them offensively with 13 kills and Megan Duffy pounded nine.  Setter Linnea Brickwood was named the Player of the Match quarterbacking the offence with 31 assists and 11 digs

Thursday evening, they meet the Queens who also tallied a three-set sweep of the Ontario champion Humber Hawks.  Emma Holmes had a match high 22 kills so the Mariners defence will need to key on her during their attack.  She was the only Queen with more than seven kills.

They are the ACAC bronze medalists along with the host seed so the Mariners will need to deal with a large boisterous crowd which could play a factor.

Both the Mariners and Queens last met in PEI in 2022 in a semi-final with the Mariners winning in three-sets to then play for gold.  That year the Mariners won the national championship and the Queens took home a bronze.

The winner advances to the women’s national gold medal match on Saturday in Red Deer.