Bronzed Royals

Story from Dan Kinvig

The Douglas Royals men’s volleyball team battled its way to a PACWEST bronze medal for the second consecutive year, outlasting the Capilano Blues in four sets on Saturday afternoon in Abbotsford.

Playing at UFV’s Envision Financial Athletic Centre, the Royals and Blues split the first two sets – No. 5-seeded Douglas taking the opener 25-23, and No. 2 Capilano bouncing back for a 25-20 triumph.

The Royals were the sharper team for the balance of the match, though, led by dynamic play from outside hitters Reid Marriott and Justin Faester. They closed things out by scores of 25-20 and 25-21.

Faester was Douglas’s player of the match, fashioning a well-rounded stat line with 14 kills, three blocks and two aces. Marriott hammered down a game-high 22 kills, and middle Greg Moore had seven kills on 77.8 per cent hitting to go with five blocks. Libero Nick Hansen backstopped the defence with 12 digs.

Sameh Khodr was the Blues’ player of the match for the second straight day, leading his team with 14 kills and adding nine digs. Zarley Zalusky had 11 kills and three aces, and PACWEST player of the year Simon Friesen dished out 43 assists and added eight digs. Libero Jonathan Lee registered seven digs.

Ryan Watters talked with Royals head coach Jay Tremonti following the match