Mariners Quarterfinal Matchup

Providence Pilots vs VIU Mariners – Wednesday March 5, 12:00pm EST / 9:00am PST

The PACWEST champion VIU Mariners will open the eight-team 2025 CCAA national volleyball championship tournament on Wednesday in Durham Ontario.

Two weeks ago, the Mariners won their 20^th PACWEST women’s volleyball gold medal with a four-set victory over the Camosun Chargers to advance to the national championship.  They return to the nationals ready to avenge last season’s loss in the gold medal match to the Lakeland Rustlers and settled for second place, not having won gold since 2022.

Coming into this tournament the Mariners are the second seed and the two-time champion Rustlers the top team.  Believe it or not, the Mariners and Rustlers have won the last eight straight national gold medals and are on a collision course once again this year.

Wednesday afternoon the Mariners lock up with the Manitoba (MCAC) champion Pilots who are making their first appearance on the national stage. They were ranked #12 by the CCAA following the regular season finale and took out the defending Conference champion Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) to claim gold. 

During the regular season the Pilots finished 16-2 and earned a bye into the best of three Conference gold medal match with CMU. There are only four schools in women’s volleyball in the MCAC

Defensively the Mariners will need to keep an eye on Tyra Peters, the Player of the Year in Manitoba who collected 233 kills during the regular season and was named tournament MVP, along with Amanda Bergen and Serena Algera who were named All-Stars.

On the offensive side the Mariners will no doubt continue their balanced attack utilizing Aimee Skinner, Emma Schill, Grace Brisebois, Megan Duffy and company. 

The winner advances to the semi-final match on Thursday.