The Camosun Chargers are hosting the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national women’s volleyball championships at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) at Camosun’s Interurban campus from March 8 to 11. The Chargers also recently announced they would be hosting the national men’s volleyball championships at PISE from March 7 to 10, 2018.
Camosun recreation and athletics coordinator Graham Matthews says that getting these events at the college shows how hard the players and staff have worked, and it’s going to benefit Camosun.
“It brings great exposure for all the programs that we offer because it’s a national event,” says Matthews. “We’ll have representation, basically, from shore to shore.”
Matthews says the top teams from each association will be represented in the tournament. Camosun put in bids to host the events through the provincial Pacific Western Athletic Association (PacWest); the CCAA approved it based on college performance and resources like venue accommodation, history, and city accommodation such as hotels and banquet space. Matthews says the matches will be live-streamed for those who can’t make it to Camosun but still want to watch.
“They’ll be streamed through the CCAA website,” says Matthews. “We’re going to have three or four hosted cameras, and then we’ll have commentators for each match.”
Camosun men’s volleyball head coach—and former Team Canada captain—Charles Parkinson says that hosting this event raises Camosun’s profile in both the sports and academic worlds.
“Being selected to host the national championships is a great reflection on the institution,” says Parkinson. “You’re recognized by your peers across the country as being an institution that can hold an event of that scale. It’s a reflection of your people.”
Matthews says that although there are challenges involved with scheduling and finding the time to make it all happen, it will be worth it on opening day when the Chargers athletes get the extra exposure.
“We’ll be able to bring people in from the community to come and see it being played at this high calibre,” he says. “It gets people excited about the sport again. It gives them a chance to see what it’s all about; maybe they want to aspire to become a volleyball player when they get older. Our team is really pumped about it as well. Being able to play in front of your friends and family is really exciting.”
The gym at PISE can hold approximately 800 people; Matthews is hoping that every seat gets filled.
“We’re definitely looking for big draws for our games,” he says. “That’s hopefully a full house there.”
Women’s volleyball head coach Chris Dahl says that it feels great to have the Chargers recognized at the national level.
“It’s recognition for a job well done for many years on behalf of the college and the athletes that have been a part of the program over the years,” he says.
Dahl adds that it’s a great feeling of validation for him to know that the college is supporting an event like this.
“It acknowledges their role in the sporting community here in Greater Victoria and in the province, and across the nation,” he says. “This is the national stage for women’s volleyball.”
In other Chargers news, the men’s volleyball team recently got their third straight PacWest title at the PacWest championship tournament, defeating the Vancouver Island University Mariners.
See camosun.ca/sports/chargers for up-to-date scores and info.