Chargers Upset Blues

Camosun Chargers 3
Capilano Blues 0

The third seeded Chargers earned the upset victory over the second seeded Blues as the PACWEST volleyball championship opened on Friday afternoon.  They won in straight sets 25-23, 25-23, and 25-18.

Offensively the Chargers played one of the most balanced matches of their season, getting production from several athletes including Karynn Hampe, Erica Bolink and Tahlia Cook.  Unofficially Hampe was the leader collecting 13 kills and was named the Chargers Player of the Match and Bolink added 11 kills in the win.

The match was won from the service line.  Bolink was brilliant with several aces and keeping the Blues from getting into a rhythm.  Even when she didn’t record an ace, her serve came at such velocity it was tough for the Blues to get a good first pass resulting in a free ball that the Chargers could take advantage of. 

The Blues’ Abi Betker and Natalie Rourke played well, and rookie setter Mollie English was impressive in her first playoff match.  Betker was the named the Blues Player of the Match with eight kills (unofficially) and Nnya Mbaoma added seven.

With an upset win the Chargers will now play for PACWEST gold on Saturday afternoon at 5:30pm while the Blues will settle for a berth in the bronze medal match at 1:00pm on Saturday.