NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. – The Durham College women's volleyball team tested themselves early to begin exhibition play, making the trip out west to face some of Canada's best.
Accepting an invite to the Douglas College Invitational, the Lords were scheduled to play:
- Vancouver Island University (VIU), who have won every CCAA National Championship in women's volleyball since 2018
- Douglas College, the hosts, and reigning CCAA silver medalists (2021-22)
- University of Alberta-Augustana, 2nd Place ACAC North (2021-22)
- Lakeland College, reigning ACAC silver medalists (2021-22)
- Capilano University, 4th Place PACWEST (2021-22)
- Volleyball Canada Women's National Excellence Program
The Lords began the invitational on Thursday evening with a pair of split-squad matches against the host Douglas Royals on their travel day, hours after arriving on the west coast, winning in one and losing in the other.
Friday was a heavy day, playing in a total of six matches. Durham went 1-3 across four split-squad matches against the National Excellence Program to start the day. Durham played a full best-of-five match against the Capilano Blues, defeating them in five before being swept by the University of Alberta-Augustana from Camrose to end a long day of play.
On Saturday, the Lords defeated the Lakeland Rustlers in five in a match that was as close as it gets – taking the fifth set by a 16-14 score. The Lords would meet the Royals for the third time, this time a full squad best-of-five match, falling in three sets.
Before making their way back to Ontario on Sunday, the Lords had a match scheduled against the back-to-back-to-back-to-back national champion VIU Mariners. After VIU took the first set, the Lords would win three unanswered to finish off the tournament with a win.
Durham now turn their focus to Wednesday, where they will host the Sheridan Bruins at 6:00 PM at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Centre (CRWC) in pre-season play.
FINAL RESULTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
vs. Douglas Royals (Split-Squad): W, 2-1 (16-25; 26-16; 15-9)
vs. Douglas Royals (Split-Squad): L, 0-3 (9-25; 12-25; 10-15)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
vs. National Excellence Program (Split-Squad): L, 1-3 (22-25; 14-25; 25-22; 18-25)
vs. National Excellence Program (Split-Squad): L, 1-3 (17-25; 25-17; 22-25; 21-25)
vs. National Excellence Program (Split-Squad): W, 2-1 (21-25; 25-25; 25-21)
vs. National Excellence Program (Split-Squad): L, 0-3 (16-25; 19-25; 11-25)
vs. Capilano Blues: W, 3-2 (24-26; 25-17; 25-16; 19-25; 15-13)
vs. Alberta-Augustana Vikings: L, 0-3 (21-25; 16-25; 23-25)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
vs. Lakeland Rustlers: W, 3-2 (25-17; 23-25; 25-18; 17-25; 16-14)
vs. Douglas Royals: L, 0-3 (17-25; 18-25; 20-25)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
vs. VIU Mariners: W, 3-1 (15-25; 25-22; 26-24; 25-18)
