Brent Mutis, CapU sport info & compliance officer
With a win to conclude 2022 and another to open 2023, the Capilano Blues were on a two-game win streak but couldn't make it three in a row as they lost a straight-sets decision Saturday to the visiting Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners.
CapU knocked off the nationally No. 11-ranked Mariners Friday evening but the visitors rebounded Saturday with a tidy three-sets win.
The Blues service game was problematic Saturday as they committed 20 errors on serve to just 11 for VIU. Isaiah Ohori was a bright spot for CapU as he delivered four aces while Gabriel Canuto put away four kills and recorded a block as he continues the transition to outside hitter.
On Friday, the Blues picked up their second win of the season, knocking off the Mariners on the strength of career-best 14 kills for outside hitter Stephen Searcy.
CapU dropped the opening set but despite a 1-9 record coming into 2023, they looked like anything but a defeated side. They won three frames in a row, never waivering even when the visitors got out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth set.
A huge block late in the second set pushes the Blues lead to 23-20 as they look to tie the match at 1-1. #GoBlues pic.twitter.com/Drz3cmf4qq
— Capilano University Blues (@CapilanoBlues) January 21, 2023
Colby Soolsma gave the Blues tons of energy Friday from both the attack line and the service line. The North Vancouver native got on a roll in the third set, drawing huge reactions from the crowd and his teammates for a massive kill inside the VIU attack line that put CapU up 21-18 on their way to a two-sets-to-one lead. He was dominant with a jump serve as well, giving the Mariners trouble on first touch.
Searcy finished things off in the late going with kills on three of the Blues final four points, including the kill to clinch the win.
Next up for CapU is another home set January 27 and 28 at the Centre for Sport and Wellness with the College of the Rockies Avalanche paying a visit. Game times are 8 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday.