Mariners Open Title Defence

VIU Mariners vs. Lynx d’Edouard-Montpetit – Friday March 25, 11:00am | WATCH HERE

The VIU Mariners will open defence of their national title on Friday at the CCAA championship tournament in Charlottetown, PEI when they face the RSEQ champion Lynx d’Edouard-Montpetit.

It has been almost exactly a month since the Mariners have played a match after winning a PACWEST silver medal on February 26th. They will need to shake off the rust quickly to get past the Lynx.

The RSEQ champions caught fire at just the right time this season winning their final four matches heading into the playoff tournament including handing the previously undefeated and top ranked Jonquiere their first loss. They would finish fifth in the standings with a record of 7-6 during the regular campaign. In the playoffs they would eliminate Garneau in the quarterfinal in four-sets which pushed them into the semi-final against the top ranked Jonquiere. Like in the regular season finale the Lynx dominated and won in four-sets and advanced to the gold medal match. In that title match they swept the defending champion Bois-de-Boulogne in three-sets and claimed their first gold since 2017.

The last time the Mariners saw the Lynx at the Nationals was also in 2017 when they swept them 3-0 in a bronze semi-final. That season the tournament was hosted by the Camosun Chargers.

This season the three-time defending champion Mariners will have to deal with the RSEQ's MVP and First Team All-Star Anica Pineault who led the Lynx all season long.

The winner moves onto the national semi-final on Saturday while the loser will play in a bronze quarterfinal on the other side of the bracket.