The countrywide match, initially scheduled for 2020 but cancelled because of to the pandemic, usually takes put March 25-27 at VIU.
It’s a championship showdown – two several years in the creating.
The prime woman university and college basketball gamers in Canada will descend on Nanaimo this thirty day period for the 2022 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Nationwide Basketball Championship.
From March 25-27, Vancouver Island University (VIU) will host a total of eight teams from throughout the nation: five meeting champions, two wildcard teams and the host VIU Mariners. All game titles will be performed in the VIU gymnasium.
The Mariners finished the normal season as the top Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) group, as well as in the nation just after finishing the typical year undefeated. They took household silver at the new PACWEST Championships in Abbotsford, right after staying bested by Okanagan School. The staff will be on the lookout to get residence the CCAA gold for the to start with time considering the fact that 1998.
“Obviously our intention is to get gold, but we’ll just take factors one particular recreation at a time. We will put together for our to start with opponent and go from there,” says Mariners women’s basketball head coach Tony Bryce.
And whilst Bryce phone calls the PACWEST decline to Okanagan College “heartbreaking,” he states it also feels like it has lessened some of the strain on the workforce. That said, he provides that the team’s supreme intention has not transformed. “We have an option to compete for national gold and that is just what we intend to do,” he says. “I be expecting our stage of aim on the aspects in apply will be elevated and I expect us to consider this loss and be much better from it.”
Bryce is also grateful to the CCAA for its choice to return the tournament to Nanaimo this yr, as VIU was at first scheduled to host the 2020 match ahead of it was cancelled at the past moment owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I consider it was the suitable matter to do and we are super fired up to not only be in the tournament, but to host,” he claims. “I hope it provides some closure to my veteran players – not only people however energetic, but the types who graduated and lost the opportunity. I experience we will be prepared and signify ourselves, VIU and the local community very well.”
VIU Athletics and Recreation Director Danielle Hyde says the host committee has “moved into large gear” and have been operating challenging since the tournament was supplied the go-ahead to commence.
“The committee is really enthusiastic to welcome the top eight teams from throughout the region,” she suggests. “I know that the pupil-athletes are thrilled and we just cannot hold out for the very first suggestion-off of the event.”
In accordance to Bryce, athletes aren’t the only men and women who really should be getting energized, as the tournament will be an thrilling event for spectators as perfectly.
“The rate and athleticism at this tournament will blow you absent,” he says. “The environment will be electric powered. If you have under no circumstances been to a sport in advance of, this is a good position to start and I would highly advocate people today do not miss out on out.”
The action gets underway with the very first match of the match at 1 pm on Friday, March 25. VIU will engage in its initial activity at 6 pm that exact same working day. Tickets and passes to the event are now on sale through Eventbrite. A comprehensive weekend program is accessible on the CCAA website.
VIU has hosted CCAA countrywide championships five situations considering that 2007: men’s volleyball in 2007, women’s volleyball in 2012, women’s basketball in 2015, badminton in 2016, and men’s soccer in 2017.
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MEDIA Get in touch with:
Eric Zimmer, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University
P: 250.618.7296 | E: [email protected] I T: @VIUNews