Brent Mutis, CapU sport info & compliance officer

Despite losing the opening set 25-21 Saturday to the visiting College of the Rockies (COTR) Avalanche, the Capilano Blues responded in a big way, winning the next three sets to earn their second win of the PACWEST season.

A quartet of Blues reached double digits in kills with Courtney Muller racking up a career-best 12 followed by Sibby Bos (11), Vanesa Gatto (10) and Anna Liniewski (10). 

Saturday was a reversal of many of the Blues results this season as they have won the opening set in four previous losses. Like Friday's opener however, CapU got better as the night went along and, after finding themselves down one set to none, they recorded set wins of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-21 to claim the win.

Kris Young and Ella Andreola shared libero duties for the weekend with Gatto remaining at outside hitter. Young showed well in the defensive role Friday, providing 13 clean digs while Andreola had 11 Saturday.

On Friday, Gatto recorded 14 kills playing outside hitter instead of her normal libero spot but it was not enough to overcome a visiting the Avalanche in a five-set thriller.

For the third time this year, Gatto moved outside but Friday's match was the first time she started there. Setter Lauren Roworth went to the fourth-year from Coquitlam early and often and she immediately found the soft spots in the COTR formation.

CapU went up two sets to one and found themselves ahead 15-10 in the fourth set but COTR dug in their heels. The Avalanche were the first to reach eight in the fifth set, prompting the change of sides. The Blues sparked a rally of their own behind some strong service work from Roworth and got a huge block from Liniewski to get within one but COTR ended it with a kill, taking the final set 15-13.

Bos also reached double digits in kills for Capilano, matching her season high with 10.

The PACWEST schedule has the Blues at Columbia Bible College (CBC) for the next two games. CapU is at CBC Feb. 3 and 4 with both games set for 6 p.m. starts.