Brent Mutis
CapU sports info
The storybook ending for a few graduating players on home court was not to be but the Capilano Blues are hoping to author a more fitting wrap to their season with road games and playoffs on the horizon.
CapU lost a five-set heartbreaker to the visiting Douglas College Royals Saturday afternoon after the Royals took a straight-sets win in Friday's opener. It was the final home game in a five-year Blues career for Vanesa Gatto who ended up with 10 kills. Also playing their final home games were libero Anika Gatto, who transferred to CapU for her final season with her twin sister, and Ashley LeSage, the middle blocker and North Van native.
The Blues got a quick start Saturday with a a 25-15 win in the first set but it seemed to simply wake up the No. 7-ranked Royals who responded with wins in the second and third sets. CapU showed some mettle and pulled out the fourth set and set up a deciding fifth.
Douglas got the upper hand early in the final frame but again, the Blues would not go quietly as they came back to within one at 13-12. A couple of untimely service errors were the difference in the end as the Royals improved to 11-7 while Capilano is back even at 8-8.
In Friday's opener, the first two sets could have gone either way but Douglas got the upper hand before claiming the third set by a 25-16 count.
CapU was without starting setter Jayden Easingwood for the weekend as she nurses an injury. Rookie Sophie Yarish filled in admirably for Easingwood and showed she can handle the role. In Saturday's game, Yarish distrbuted well getting 10 kills for Nnya Mbaoma as well as nine for Annika Kuznik.
The Blues finish the regular season on the road with games Feb. 9 and 10 at Vancouver Island University and Feb. 16 and 17 at College of the Rockies.
WVB | Final score 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-17) as @RoyalsAthletics spoil alumni night for the ladies defeating the Blues.
— Capilano University Blues (@CapilanoBlues) February 3, 2024
Rematch tomorrow at 4 pm!
Leading the way are Nnya Mbaoma (9 K, 2 BLK), Natalie Rourke (5 K, 3 BLK) and Annika Kuznik (6 K, 1 BLK).#GoBlues #BleedBlue #CapU pic.twitter.com/P2ApqT6wBw
WVB | Final score 3-2 (15-25, 25-13, 25-20, 20-25, 15-13) as @RoyalsAthletics defeat the Blues despite our ladies showing a ton of resilience and battling right til the very last point.
— Capilano University Blues (@CapilanoBlues) February 4, 2024
Leaders:
V. Gatto (10 K, 2 BLK)
Mbaoma (10 K, 1 BLK)
Kuznik (9 K)#GoBlues #BleedBlue #CapU pic.twitter.com/yvV5LuCiQp
