Brent Mutis, CapU sport info & compliance officer

Needing a win to keep the chance of a postseason berth alive, the Capilano Blues dug deep and registered 12 aces and 12 blocks over five sets to claim a 3-2 win Saturday over the host Columbia Bible College (CBC) Bearcats. This sets up a crucial weekend at Douglas College Feb. 10 and 11.

It was the right arm of Stephen Searcy that helped deliver the win Saturday as the 6-foot-4 second-year outside hitter came through with 13 kills. He was also a wall at the net, collecting three solo blocks. Jenson Yuen made himself a threat from the setter's spot as he had six kills while helping Colby Soolsma and James Fong to nine and eight kills respectively. 

Yuen was a big contributer elsewhere on the floor as well Saturday with two solo blocks and a pair of aces.

CapU dropped the first game this past weekend on Friday night, another five-set setback, despite being up two sets to one. 

Even with 15 kills from Soolsma and four aces from Searcy, it was not enough. CapU won the first set handily, 25-15 and after CBC needed extra points to even the match with a 26-24 win in the second set, the Blues put themselves in good position for the win with 13 kills and a 25-20 win in the third frame.

Capilano had more kills in the fourth set but also made more errors and the Bearcats evened things up again 2-2. Riding the wave of momentum, the home side put away nine kills in the fifth set, taking it 15-12.

The Blues find themselves at 4-12 in the PACWEST standings and in fifth place. The top-four teams make playoffs this season so CapU will need a few things to go their way in order to snag a spot. They have a game in hand on the team they are trying to catch, Douglas College, and go head-to-head with the Royals at their New Westminster campus next weekend.

CapU finishes up the regular season with home games Feb. 17 and 18 against top-ranked Camosun College.