Shis ibsue: ( The excitement of watching the Canucks live (¥ How to bungle a surplus of talent And more! Net result » Men’s volleyball season-in-review Eric Wilkins Sports Editor MAsports ‘a |. @theotherpress.ca O: March 8, the men’s volleyball team wrapped up their season at Nationals in Saskatchewan. Though the squad had title aspirations going into the tournament, their final position—a tie for fifth—is nothing to shake a fist at. With a PACWEST Championship in hand and a season full of memories, these Royals can head into their offseason with their heads held high. The opening game for Douglas at nationals saw the Royals take on the tournament hosts, Briercrest College. Although the Royals battled hard, even leading 2-1 heading into Grind time : the fourth set, they ultimately : lost the match 3-2 (25-20, 24-26, : 22-25, 25-20, 15-10). If the squad : was feeling demoralized after : their gold medal chances faded, : they didn’t show it in their next : matchup. To have any hope of : medalling, the squad had to : make sure they pulled out a win : Tommies—and they did. After : allowing the Tommies a first set : win, the Royals stormed back : with three straight, including a : dominating third set win (20-25, : 25-21, 25-10, 25-20). With St. Thomas University : out of the way, Douglas had a : familiar foe to face in order to : reach the bronze medal game: : the Columbia Bible College : Bearcats. The rematch of the : PACWEST final wasn't to go the Royals’ way this time around : though, losing 3-1. The Royals » Off-season preparation for the Royals Courtnie Martin Sports Reporter Wee two major sports just wrapping up their year has already begun. As any athlete knows, the work isn’t over once season ends—and the Royals know that as well as anyone. With Royals’ strength and conditioning coach Jake Elder giving the athletes two weeks off : : : elated to take the time off, others : : after their seasons, it is very clear : : that once they recuperate, the : grind will start over again. : “Lam glad that we are getting : : some time off after season; it was: : avery long season. But I want to get back at it soon so we can seasons, the preparation for next ; Start working towards next year. : Jake is going to push us to the : max during the summer and it : will truly help us prepare for next : > season,” said one of the women’s : basketball captains and her : squad's provincial tournament : game MVP, Adelia Paul. While many athletes are (Y Sochi 2014 continues with the Paralympics Know the score? Contact: Eric Wilkins, Sports Editor M sports@theotherpress. ca www theotherpress.ca The Douglas College Royals men’s volleyball team // By www.rowan.edu : pushed in the fourth, but it just : wasn't enough (21-25, 25-20, 25-15, : 29-27). Coach Brad Hudson : commented that, “It’s obviously a : challenge to refocus after losing the : first match, but for the most part, : I thought we did. We just never : really found our groove and had to : against the St. Thomas University : rely more on intangibles and less on : executing good skills and tactics. : To finish in the top six in the : country can’t be undervalued but : the reality is we believe we were/ : are better than our finish.” Nationals may not have gone : their way, but there’s a veritable : laundry list of accomplishments : for the team and its members this : : season. For starters, after a season : : with its share of struggles, the : squad finished first in PACWEST. : Along with this is a bevy of : individual awards: Brad Hudson : took home PACWEST Coach of have already begun their own : personal training. “We have been : out of season for a little over two weeks and I have realized that in order to stay competitive you : have to work hard year-round; : that is the best way to get an : edge on our opponents. They will : probably take a lot of time off. : It’s important to develop skills that weren't as strong during the off-season,” commented women’s : volleyball player Courtney : Wilson. The Royals have been : commended on how hard they work in the weight room during : season, but in the offseason : they take their abilities to new : heights. This is the opportunity : for them to max out on squats, : dead-lifts, and to learn and : enhance proper technique. : to get back into their sports, : they also get the opportunity : to come together as an entire : unit at the annual Douglas College Athletic Banquet. The : banquet allows all the athletes : to receive recognition for : their accomplishments, and : to reminisce on a hard-fought : season. With over 200 talented : the Year; Caleb Konrad snagged : PACWEST Rookie of the Year; : Drew Ruby was a PACWEST : Second Team All-Star; and : Andrew McWilliam was both an : All-Canadian and a PACWEST : First Team All-Star. The team undoubtedly made : : strides this year—something that : : both fifth-year Andrew Robson : and Hudson acknowledge. “[We] definitely came a : long way. The team now is : incredibly different from the : team we had in September. We : have all grown so much, both : individually and collectively,” : said Robson. Hudson noted that, : “They’ve learned a lot about : themselves and each other : through this process. Their : honesty and integrity as young : men, athletes, and as Royals on : and off the court is something the ! While the Royals are excited : coaches are truly proud of?” Robson’s athletic eligibility : is now over, but he’s happy : with how his college career : went: “Ending with a provincial : championship was pretty : awesome. I know a lot of guys who have played their five : years and never even had the : Opportunity to win one; I was : lucky enough to get two in : my time at Douglas. Going : out on top—in BC at least—is : definitely something Ill never : forget.” He also has high hopes for : the Royals next season, “It’ll be : fun watching that team next : year. It’s clear the group has a : ton of talent; they just need : to keep pushing themselves to : get better. If they can do that : there’s no doubt they'll bea contender.” : athletes, Douglas feels it’s : necessary to acknowledge all of : them and the hard work it takes : to bea student-athlete. “Tam pumped for the banquet! All of us athletes can come together and celebrate the : good, bad, and indifferent for : one last time before we get back : on the grind. You have to leave : the past behind in order to make > amore successful future, and : Pm sure that is what each of us : plan to do moving into our off- : seasons,” said men’s volleyball : player Nicholas Bridle.