Landing The Pilots

COTR Avalanche vs. Providence Pilots – Wednesday March 11, 7:00pm PST

The PACWEST champion COTR Avalanche are making their second straight trip to the CCAA national championship tournament and will open the bracket against the host and MCAC champion Providence Pilots on Wednesday night in the featured match. 

The Avalanche are coming off their school’s first ever PACWEST gold medal following a four-set win over the VIU Mariners in the title match.   Diego Policarpo was named tournament MVP and Dylan Annala and Boston Thiessen were honoured as All-Stars.  As PACWEST teams know the Avalanche are led by Policarpo and Annala, but their middles can make a major impact as well.  Luke Margenau and Julius Molnar have been outstanding contributing with kills and blocks making their net play extremely important in the team’s overall success.

On Wednesday they meet the Pilots for the second straight season, beating them in four sets last year winning 25-17, 16-25, 25-16 and 25-21 to advance. 

The Pilots are coming off their second straight MCAC title and were led by championship MVP Liam Buhler out of the middle.  They finished 13-5 during the regular campaign with MCAC Player of the Year Cole Doell leading the way with 195 kills and Cayden Williams who had 140.

They will be a feisty team on their home floor with the home crowd behind them making it tough on the Avalanche.  If the PACWEST champs can whether the storm early and keep the crowd quiet, they can have success as they look to advance.

The winner moves onto play in a CCAA semifinal while the loser heads to the bronze medal side of the bracket and a bronze medal quarterfinal.