Chargers head to VIU for 2nd Annual Island Rivalry games
February 11, 2009
The Camosun College Chargers basketball and volleyball teams are on the road to Nanaimo this weekend to compete in the 2nd Annual Island Rivalry games against the Vancouver Island University Mariners.
The Island Rivalry games are for Vancouver Island bragging rights where a winner is determined by a combination of wins on the floor and fans in the stands. This year’s events promise to be even more exciting than last year’s where standing room crowds of over 1,400 fans rocked the house in support of their Mariner teams. This weekend, VIU organizers expect close to 20 community teams and over 500 students in attendance over the two days of action. There will be live music both nights highlighted by a Friday night Tailgate Party.
While the Mariners are counting on their spectators to provide a sizeable measure of audience intimidation to help the home team score big points in the stands, the Chargers will be focused on putting their points to work on the scoreboard, digging deep for inner strength and using the crowd toward their advantage.
Chargers women’s basketball head coach Brett Westcott is all about the game and undeterred when it comes to the hype. "We have played at UNBC with big crowds and we have a veteran squad so hopefully it will not have a negative effect on how we play,” he stated. “We will have to be mentally tough and just worry about ourselves and our performance or we may as well stay home."
Ranked #4 with a record of 10-5, the Mariners might not seem like a big threat to the #1 Chargers (14-1), but this is definitely a case where size is a factor and Camosun will have to put up their best defense to ensure the win.
"VIU is big, athletic and tough inside,” commented Westcott. “They work hard and they present matchup problems with their size. We will have to rebound well and defend well if we hope to have a chance against them."
Head coach Craig Price and the Chargers men’s team will also have their work cut out for them as they face the conference’s #1 team. With only three games to go, the Chargers men are in ninth spot and out of the running for a berth into the playoffs.
For the Chargers volleyball teams, the weekend is significant as it marks the final match of the 2008-09 league season. Last weekend on the road, the Chargers men and women dominated their opponents at the College of the Rockies and Selkirk College, bringing home four solid victories.
The Chargers women, who are 5-10 and outside of the playoffs, are gearing up to outwork the third-ranked Mariners this weekend and end the season on a high note.
“The team has found a definite sense of strength that has been slowly building over the season and we really want to finish on a high note of confidence,” remarked head coach Alison Hitesman. “VIU is always fun to play and we usually give them a tough time because of our never give up attitude. They may try to out-hit us, but they won’t out-work us.”
With the very sad news of the unexpected death this past weekend of Sheila Lindal (wife to volleyball icon and Hall of Famer, Vic Lindal and grandmother to Chargers rookie, Stephanie Lindal) the team has found an even more meaningful reason to dig deep and pull together.
“As a unit, we came together in full support of our tenacious teammate, who continued to be a bright light even as she was saddened in her personal loss,” stated Coach Hitesman. “We, as a team, share in Stephanie’s loss and support her in this trying and emotional time.”
At 11-4 and #3 in the BCCAA standings, the Chargers men have their sights set on winning their seventh straight victory for a second place spot in the playoffs, but they will have to overcome BCCAA’s #1 ranked team in front of possibly one of the loudest home crowds in the league to get there.
“There is an enormous amount resting on this weekend’s event,” stated Chargers men’s volleyball head coach Charles Parkinson. “The team that wins will likely end up second overall and have a bye in the first round of playoffs. The loser will be 4th overall and have to play Douglas College and then UBCO in the semi-final. Obviously, our goal is to win. The challenge will be to remain as focused as we have been over the last few months, stick to the game plan, play within ourselves and not react to either the crowd or the different looks that VIU will show us. Both our teams know each other so well and it will simply come down to who is able to execute the best on Saturday.”
When it comes to playing in front of huge audiences away from home, Parkinson believes that teams can use the environment to their advantage. “I think playing in front of a loud crowd is often a motivator for visiting teams,” he commented. “The crowd is usually in it when their team is playing well, but they tend to go quiet when the opposition plays exceptionally well. Once again, I think both our teams understand what to expect and the atmosphere will be electric.”
Check out the 2nd Annual Island Rivalry Games
Camosun College Chargers vs. Vancouver Island Mariners in Nanaimo
- Fri, Feb. 13 Basketball Women at 6pm; Men at 8pm
- Sat, Feb. 14 Volleyball Women at 6pm; Men at 7:45pm
Contact
Graham Matthews
Camosun College Recreation and Athletics Coordinator
matthews@camosun.bc.ca
250–220–2505
