Previous bronze medalists Royals set to open PACWEST season Friday night
The previous PACWEST bronze-medallists Douglas Royals men’s volleyball team are set to hit the court this Friday, November 5th as they open their regular season welcoming the College of the Rockies for three straight nights.
The previous PACWEST bronze-medallists Douglas Royals men's volleyball team are set to hit the court this Friday November 5th as they open their regular season welcoming the College of the Rockies for three straight nights.
In 2019-20, the Royals men finished first in the PACWEST conference, winning 19 out of 24 games in the regular season to end the year with 38 points. They claimed the bronze medal in a riveting 5-set match against the VIU Mariners that saw them come out with a 3-2 victory.
This year, the Royals return with a roster that includes both seasoned veterans and young talent who are itching to kick off the PACWEST regular season after a missed year due to the pandemic.
"It's been really exciting." Royals head coach Jay Tremonti comments. "I think the guys are craving those competitive opportunities. We've probably got over half a roster who are competing for the first time for the Royals, so it'll be a special moment for them these first few months."
New additions to watch:
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4th year Andrew Jones will make his debut for the Royals this Friday. As a transfer from York University, the 6'1 outside hitter is anticipated to make immediate impact on the court for Douglas and brings in a high level of experience from playing at the U-Sport level.
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1st year outside hitter Owen Lamb and 2nd year setter Tyson Koop are rookies to watch out for as they will also don Royals jerseys for the first time this weekend and look to continuously compete for starting positions on the court.
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International recruit Lucas Sansone joins the Royals this season coming all the way from Argentina. The 6'7 middle blocker is a key addition to the Douglas roster and is expected to play a major role in controlling plays at the net with his size and power.
The Royals look to start the season off on the right foot as they prepare to take on the College of the Rockies Avalanche starting Friday night. Their last matchup in 2019-20 resulted in a 3-2 Douglas victory via a five-set thriller, coming out on top 15-13. The home opener will be meaningful as it is the first time both teams return to league play in over a year.
"We're fighting to get better every day." Tremonti remarks. "We're hoping to play our best volleyball come February at the PACWEST Championships and hopefully at the CCAA National Championships. Our expectation is that we're going to be able to compete with the best in Canada and the best in BC and see where the chips fall in terms of results at the end of the year."
Once again, the Douglas Royals men's volleyball team will begin their season this Friday night at 8pm hosting the College of the Rockies Avalanche in the New Westminster gym. Tickets for General Admission (19+) are $6 at the door, while DC students get in free. Proof of vaccination for all spectators 12+ is required.
