Photo from Camosun Chargers

The Camosun College Chargers and island rivals the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners, kick off the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) volleyball season on Friday, Oct. 21 in Nanaimo and at home on Saturday, Oct. 22 (W6pm, M8pm).

 

The 2021-22 PACWEST and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (A) men’s volleyball championship banners will be revealed before the men’s game, along with the ring presentation.

Photo from Camosun Chargers

The Chargers men’s volleyball team won PACWEST gold last season, defeating the VIU Mariners in an exciting come-from-behind five-set victory to advance to the CCAA National Championship. The team played an outstanding tournament, winning all nine sets to claim national gold.

 

The women’s volleyball team battled hard at the PACWEST championships to claim the bronze medal over the Capilano Blues. This was the second straight PACWEST medal for the women’s team as they won silver in 2020. This year’s team is stacked with talent and a mixture of skill, experience, and youthful exuberance, which is evident in the number of rookies joining this season.

 

Providing leadership for the men’s squad are fifth year veterans and team captains leftside Eduardo Bida (Colegio Gabarito/Brazil) and leftside Brendan Folkerts (MBCI/Winnipeg, MB). Also returning for his final year is middle Dale McConnell (Pacific Christian/Victoria, B.C.).

 

“This will be an exciting season with a brand new coaching staff leading the way with nine returning athletes from the national championship team in 2021-22,” said men’s volleyball head coach, Kelvin Ma. “Playing alongside them will be eight rookies who are ready to compete in the PACWEST. With a healthy mix of experienced players and eager rookies, you can expect to see a variety of line ups competing throughout the season.”

 

The women’s volleyball team is led by fifth year libero Correina McNeice (Caledonia Secondary/Terrace, B.C.), and supported by fourth year Chantell Dobie (Salmon Arm Secondary/Salmon Arm, B.C.), Hannah May (Belmont Secondary/Victoria, B.C.), and Brooke Ure (Summerland Secondary/Summerland, B.C.).

Photo from Camosun Chargers

“Everyone on our team is a truly quality individual and it shows in the camaraderie that has quickly formed and the fast pace of development that is taking place every day in training,” added women’s volleyball head coach, Brent Hall.

 

Edvard Adolfsen (Toppvolley Norge/Sandes, Norway) and Bida make up the squad’s international connection and cannot wait to represent Camosun on the court this season.

 

A number of additional athletes make up the list of returnees to the men’s group, including President’s Cup co-winner for excellence in academics and athletics, Graham Basi (Reynolds Secondary/Victoria, B.C.), Kyle Butterworth (Okanagan Mission/Kelowna, B.C.) who will be playing setter and leftside, rightside third year Liam Conlin (Master’s Academy & College/Calgary, AB), libero Kristofer La Guardia (Vancouver College/Vancouver, B.C.), setter Lucas Maffia (Oak Bay High School/Victoria, B.C.), and 2 metre (6’7”) middle Kieran Robinson-Dunning (Claremont Secondary/Victoria, B.C.).

 

Also returning to the women’s group is former PACWEST Athlete of the Week, second year Jasanna Kunz (George Elliot Secondary/Summerland, B.C.), third year Gracie May (Belmont Secondary/Victoria, B.C.), and second year Taylee Pomponio (Belmont Secondary/Victoria, B.C.) also joins the team again after under going knee reconstruction.

 

Joining the Chargers men’s volleyball team for 2022-23 are eight new comers, including first years Adolfsen, Jake Bolton (R.A. McMath Secondary/Richmond, BC), Tristan Cumming (Reynolds Secondary/Victoria, B.C.), Jordan Fulljames (College Heights Secondary/Prince George, B.C.), Coen Good (Lindsay Thurber High/Red Deer, AB), Finn Johnson (Steveston-London Secondary/Richmond, B.C.), and fourth year Ben Linsley (Holy Cross High/Saskatoon, SK), and third year Josh Silvestri (Linden Christian School/Winnipeg, MB).

 

Like the men’s squad, the women’s team is also loaded with new players; a whopping 10 this season. Local product Erika Bolink (Pacific Christian/Victoria, BC) joins the squad after returning from playing last season at McEwan University, middle Tahlia Cook (Stelly’s Secondary/Victoria, B.C.), outsides Rilyn Boorman (Hunting Hills High/Red Deer, AB), Madison French (Lethbridge Collegiate/Lethbridge, AB), Karynn Hampe (Duchess Park Secondary/Prince George, B.C.), Daelyn Jeffers (North Peace Secondary/Fort St. John, B.C.), and Paige Roslinsky (Hunting Hills High/Red Deer, AB), setter Avery Hansen (Lindsay Thurber High/Red Deer, AB), and libero Avery Sande (Lomond Community School/Lomond, AB). It’s a first-year filled bench for the men’s volleyball team with Ma leading the bench and backed by Jared Collin, Etienne Hagenbuch, and Nick Baker-Bell. Tending to the players are athletic therapists Ian Ball and Jean-Rene Lecourt.

 

Hall enters his sixth season leading the women’s volleyball team as head coach. He is backed by Jeremy Schmidt, who is also in his sixth season with the team, and Morgan Monkman returns for her second season on the bench as part of the CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program, and Camosun Chargers and Brock University alumni.

 

The full PACWEST schedule can be found on their website at www.pacwestbc.ca; all games are live streamed at sportscanada.tv.