Lauren Grey
Blues Crew, Communications
The Capilano Blues battled hard Friday night but were ultimately defeated by the Columbia Bible College Bearcats in a hard-fought five-set match (25-20, 17-25, 21-25, 25-22, 13-15). Friday evening saw a lively crowd as it was Blues volleyball alumni night; many past Blues came to the Centre for Sport and Wellness with their families and kids, perhaps some future Blues athletes!
The Blues rotated players today as the playoff standings are pretty much set in stone; it allowed for the better part of the bench to enter the game with players getting some much-needed rest. The Blues dominated the start of the match, going on a 10-0 run that forced the Bearcats into an early timeout. The Blues went on to win the first set after a Bearcats comeback to close the gap. The Bearcats came alive in the second and third sets, finding their rhythm and making it a competitive affair.
The errors from the Blues seemed to stem from a lack of communication and unforced errors, but it wasn't with a lack of energy. The Blues remained positive throughout the whole game, even having a dance circle to keep the momentum going and vibes high, which will be a key point heading into playoffs in a couple of weeks. The Blues battled back in the fourth but ultimately lost the final fifth set 15-13 in a back-and-forth battle.
Standout performances from the game came from several key players on the Blues. Annika Kuznik led the charge with an impressive 16 kills and 1 block, Abby Betker was also a major contributor, finishing with 14 kills and 1 block, consistently finding ways to put pressure on the Bearcats' defense. Nnya Mbaoma had a strong showing as well, contributing 13 kills and 3 aces, adding an extra spark to the Blues’ attack with her serving. Each of these players helped keep the Blues competitive despite the loss.
The Blues will be back at home tomorrow at 5 pm for a rematch against the Bearcats, and they hope to rebound from their mistakes today. Go Blues!
Leading the way in tonight's loss:
— Capilano University Blues (@CapilanoBlues) February 8, 2025
Kuznik - 16 K, 1 BLK
Betker - 14 K, 1 BLK
Mbaoma - 13 K, 3 ACE#GoBlues #BleedBlue #CapU pic.twitter.com/mtNj4m3vGQ
