Royals gear up for PACWEST Championships as second-place seed
The Douglas College Royals men’s volleyball team will enter the PACWEST Championships this upcoming weekend as the second-place seed in the conference as they look to compete for a chance to raise the championship banner.
The Douglas College Royals men's volleyball team will enter the PACWEST Championships this upcoming weekend as the second-place seed in the conference as they look to compete for a chance to raise the championship banner.
After finishing their regular season on February 12 with a gutsy 3-1 victory over Capilano (7-8), the Douglas team head into the playoffs with a 10-5 record that saw them obtaining a total of 20 points, 4 short from the league-leading VIU (12-3). This impressive showing earned them a first-round bye, sending them straight to the semi-final on Friday afternoon.
The Royals have hit the court in every game this season with vigor and energy, exhibiting what it means for a team to play with heart, and for one another. The men have fought for and won 5 tight 5-set matches and also amassed a 5-game win streak mid-season to solidify themselves as a squad determined to come out successful at the PACWEST Championships.
Key contributors from all positions have been a critical component for Douglas. As a team with a balance of both seasoned veterans and explosive young talent, the Royals have shown great chemistry on the court during times of resilience.
On the offensive side, second year outside hitter Matt Shand has been a huge, commanding force at the net, finishing 1st in the league in kills (3.96 AVG), total offense (4.94 AVG) and also in aces with 33 in 53. 4th-year middle blocker Greg Moore has also played a significant role as a large net front presence, placing 3rd in the league in blocks.
In addition, first-year international recruit Lucas Sansone has fit right in with the team's powerful offense from day 1. The middle blocker finished the regular season 9th in the league in blocks (0.48 AVG). Senior libero Nick Hansen has also been an important component of the team as both a seasoned leader and defensive anchor, placing 7th in the PACWEST in digs with a 1.63 average.
Wednesday morning, a total of 4 Royals were announced as PACWEST conference All-Stars:
Matthew Shand – PACWEST Player of the Year, First Team All-Star, PACWEST's Top Outside Hitter
Greg Moore – Second Team All-Star
Ben Shand – Second Team All-Star
Lucas Sansone – All-Rookie Team
Entering the PACWEST Championships this weekend, the Royals will look to put their best foot forward and play to their strengths to obtain a chance at playing for the gold medal and secure a trip to the CCAA National Championships.
As the men have already obtained a critical first-round bye, the Royals will play their first playoff game on Friday, February 25th at 3pm at Columbia Bible College against the winner of Match 2 (Camosun vs. CBC). This semi-final will determine their placement in the medal matches on Saturday. All PACWEST Championships matches will be streamed via PACWEST LIVE and can also be attended in person.
