CapU Blues sports info

For the third straight meeting, the Capilano Blues took the top-ranked College of the Rockies (COTR) Avalanche to a fifth set only to come up just short, this time in the PACWEST provincial semifinal (set scores: 25-19, 27-29, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12).

The two teams closed the regular season against each other Feb. 13 and 14 with COTR taking both grueling five-set affairs and it played out the same way Friday at Columbia Bible College in the final game of the night. The win puts COTR into not only Saturday's gold-medal match against Vancouver Island University but also books their spot at the CCAA National Championship as the PACWEST has two berths on the men's side.

Friday in the semifinal, the Avalanche got good production early from Player of the Year Dylan Annala and COTR did a good job to keep Blues all-star Luke Tiegen quiet in the opening set. Capilano got back on even terms in the second set, though it went deep into extra points. Kyle Hinchey got his big right arm going with some powerful swings and setter Liam Martin smartly went to middle blockers Quentin Middleton and Reese Nowotny to spread out the COTR block formation.

After COTR went up two sets to one, Capilano refused to roll over, digging deep to force a fifth set. In the decisive frame, as had been the case in the regular season, COTR was first to eight points causing the teams to switch sides but the Blues had one last gasp, getting within one at 12-11. COTR went up a couple of points and then a long delay ensued as one of the Avalanche players appeared to have a cut that left blood on several spots on the floor. After a long delay to clean up, the teams alternated points but ultimately the Avalance found a way through, recording a big block to end the match. 

Capilano will play the Douglas College Royals for PACWEST bronze on Saturday in a 3 p.m. start.