Brent Mutis, CapU sport info & compliance officer

The College of the Rockies (COTR) Avalanche rebounded Saturday in their final showing of a three-match week to claim a three-sets-to-one win at CapU over the Blues.

COTR dropped matches to Douglas College on Thursday and the opener to Capilano on Friday before finding their best effort to conclude the week. 

Brazilian imports Diego Policarpo and Gustavo Bertoli led the way for the Avalance with 15 and 13 kills respectively while their countryman Vittor Matteus racked up 38 assists. 

On the Blues side, Colby Soolsma was the leader Saturday with 13 kills and four solo blocks while on the defensive side liberos Owen Genge and Brayden Labossiere provided seven digs apiece. Jenson Yuen totalled 40 assists from the setter's spot while also recording two solo blocks.

In a thrilling match on Friday, Stephen Searcy racked up 14 kills and James Fong had 13 to lift the Capilano Blues to a five-set victory over COTR.

CapU seemed to be in control of the evening by getting out two a two-sets-to-none lead but COTR did not go away quietly, winning the next two sets to force a fifth and deciding frame to 15.

The Blues had enough left in the tank to be first to eight in the fifth, leading 8-3 as the sides switched. The teams traded points the rest of the way with CapU taking it 15-10.

Yuen shared the ball well amongst the Blues hitters. His distribution helped Soolsma get into double digits for the fourth consecutive game as the North Vancouver product matched his season high and finished with 14. 

Next on the schedule is a pair of road games Feb. 3 and 4 at Columbia Bible College (CBC). Both games at CBC are 8 p.m. starts.