Mariners Go For Bronze

VIU Mariners vs. Elans de Garneau – Saturday March 8, 1:00pm PST | BRONZE MEDAL

The PACWEST champion Mariners will play for a national bronze medal after sweeping the host Durham Lords in Friday’s semi-final matchup.

The Mariners made quick work of the hosts, dominating the sets winning 25-15, 25-17 and 25-17.  Aimee Skinner collected a team high 12 kills and Emma Schill had her best performance of the playoffs adding 11 kills, two aces and seven digs.  Setter Keira Crellin was awarded the Player of the Match recording 32 assists, four digs and even had a pair of service aces.

Garneau has taken a similar path getting into this bronze medal match. They swept their quarterfinal opponent, the Mount Allison Mounties on Wednesday, they were swept themselves on Thursday in the semi-final by the defending champion Lakeland Rustlers.  On Friday they won a do or die bronze medal semi-final taking down the Augustine Vikings in four sets propelling them into this match.   They are led offensively by a dynamic duo of Maeli Cormier and Marilou Couture who have accounted for more than 50% of their points during this national championship.

This should be a very close match with a pair of champions going head-to-head. The Mariners are the PACWEST champs and last won a CCAA bronze medal in 2017, while Garneau won the RSEQ and last won a bronze in 2013.

The last time these two schools met was the 2020 gold medal match, in which the Mariners won in four sets.