Posted: Nov 14, 2025
Brent Mutis
CapU Blues sports info
A diverse barrage of attacks from the Capilano Blues front line allowed them to find holes in the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners' defences and propelled the home side to a straight-sets win Friday night (25-19, 25-19, 25-21).
Second-year setter Liam Martin used all the tools at his disposal and got great production from middle blockers Quentin Middleton and Reese Nowotny. The variety of looks gave VIU trouble and opened up holes on the outside.
Martin's fingerprints were all over the 3-0 win Friday. The Prince George product got on a roll at the service line in the first set, reeling off four points in a row that prompted the Mariners into a timeout. He also teed up outside hitter Luke Tiegen for six kills in the opening set on the way to 14 for the night.
In the second set, Nowotny got hot from the service line late in the frame, using a big spin serve to rattle off three points in a row to turn what had been a three-point lead in the set into a six-point margin. A VIU service error gave the Blues the set and put them in command, up two sets to none.
An area the Blues have addressed early in the season is slow starts to each set and avoided that pitfall Friday as they got out to a lead in each frame. Playing from in front, Capilano demonstrated poise and a developing confidence, closing out each set in clinical fashion.
That was on display especially in the third set after VIU got ahead 15-13. CapU responded with an 8-3 run that included a Shub Wander ace and a big tandem block from Nowotny and Xavier Masztak. The Blues won an impressive rally to get to match point with crucial digs from Middleton and Masztak and sealed the deal when a Mariners attack went long.
The Blues won the battle of the service line decisively, with eight aces including three each from Wander and Masztak, while surrendering just one ace against.
The teams return to action Saturday afternoon in a 3 p.m. start.
