Royals enter PACWEST Championships this weekend as strong contenders
The Douglas College Royals women’s volleyball team will get the chance to compete for a provincial title this upcoming weekend at the PACWEST Championships set on February 24-26.
The Douglas College Royals women's volleyball team will get the chance to compete for a provincial title this upcoming weekend at the PACWEST Championships set on February 24-26.
The Royals played their final regular season match on February 12, grabbing a 3-1 victory on the road against the Blues (4-11) to finish their season series with a clean sweep and remain undefeated against Capilano this year.
With the win, the women finish second in the PACWEST conference with 26 points after amassing an impressive 13-2 record, earning them a critical first-round bye in the provincial championships as they continue their quest towards the banner.
Led by seasoned head coach Jeff Ross, the team has spent every moment on the court this season with a relentless attitude, fighting for every point until the final whistle. Their season has been nothing but remarkable as they have consistently stayed amongst the top of the conference throughout the year, proving themselves to be a solid contender for the PACWEST title. In addition, the women placed 3rd in the CCAA Women's Volleyball Rankings over the past three weeks upon its return.
The Royals have also seen significant contributions on the court from many players throughout the roster in both raw skill and veteran leadership. The former has been a critical element for the team this year, especially from outside hitters Lauren and Talia Attieh. The sisters have been a key addition for the team's dynamic offense; the former finished 3rd in the league for total offense (3.65 AVG) alongside 4th for total kills (2.83 AVG), whilst the latter was 3rd in kills (2.89) and 2nd in total offense (3.68 AVG).
Additional players finishing their regular season amongst the conference leaders include second-year middle blocker Abbie Smith who placed 3rd in blocks with a 0.64 average and 2nd in aces with 27 in 45 sets played, and senior opposite hitter Grace McGillivray who placed 5th in kills with a 2.82 average. On the defensive side, liberos Logan Richter and Trisha He have been a solid force for the team this season. Richter was named the CCAA Athlete of the Week last Wednesday after a strong showing in the back end of the season.
Wednesday morning, 4 Royals were announced as PACWEST conference All-Stars, with 3 earning nominations amongst several categories:
Lauren Attieh – First Team All-Star, All-Rookie Team, Rookie of the Year
Jane Kepler – Second Team All-Star, PACWEST's Top Setter
Grace McGillivray – First Team All-Star
Talia Attieh – Second Team All-Star, All-Rookie Team
Heading into the provincial championships this weekend, the women look to prepare and continue the strong game they have exhibited throughout this year as they set their eyes on claiming the PACWEST title alongside a bid to the CCAA National Championships.
As placing second in the conference has earned them a first-round bye, the Royals will play their first playoff match in the semi-final on Friday, February 25th at 12:30pm at Columbia Bible College against the winner of Match #3 (CBC vs. Camosun). The outcome of this game will determine their placement in the medal matches on Saturday. The game will be livestreamed via the PACWEST LIVE website and can also be attended in-person
