Brent Mutis, CapU Sport Information & Compliance Officer

Heading to Nanaimo for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader against Vancouver Island University (VIU), it was not an ideal time for the Capilano Blues to be without starting setter Kelsey Towers.

VIU was on a five-game win streak and the Blues were looking to get back in the win column after a straight-sets defeat at Douglas College Jan. 22. Rookie setter Faith Sahota filled in admirably for Towers at VIU but the Mariners proved too much, taking both Friday and Saturday matches by 3-0 decisions.

Mariners 6-foot-4 Ukrainian import Yevgeniya Lytvynenko had a big weekend against the shorthanded Blues, recording high kill totals both nights. 

Sahota shared the ball around among the Blues hitters Friday, with Maya Griffith picking up seven kills to lead the way while Nnya Mbaoma and Anna Liniewski each had five. Playing in the middle, Grace Brisebois had three kills and was in on two blocks while chalking up two aces as well.

Vanesa Gatto covered tons of court on the weekend from her libero position, tallying 25 digs including 18 in the Friday opener.

Next on the schedule for the Blues is home date Saturday, Feb. 5 with College of the Rockies coming to CapU's Centre for Sport and Wellness. Game time is 5 p.m. Saturday.