The Avalanche had a tough weekend against the Camosun Chargers, but the ladies picked up a win, while the men were defeated in both matches during Pacwest volleyball action this weekend at the College of the Rockies.
Sporting their retro uniforms circa 2000-03 on Friday evening, the ladies earned their second win of the season by forcing a tiebreak after winning the fourth set to even it out at 2-2 apiece. Facing a five-point deficit at 14-9, the Avs rallied back in epic fashion to win the tiebreak set and the match at 16-14.
The ladies opened strong and won the first set at 25-12, before falling 17-25 and 14-25 to Camosun. However, they stormed back in the fourth set at 25-22 to set up the tiebreak.
The Chargers came hard out of the gate on Saturday, winning the first set 25-12. The Avs put up a better fight during the rest of the match, but surrendered the next two sets at 25-20.
The men had a frustrating weekend, losing in five sets on Friday before falling in four sets on Saturday.
Friday's match featured the set of the weekend, after the Avs, facing a 2-1 set deficit, won the fourth at 37-35 to force the tiebreak.
"That was an energy-drainer," said Avs left side Zach Fedechko. "It was a booster and an energy drainer at the same time. You can definitely feel it—we felt it in the fifth set.
"...It was a good win for the set, but we should've beat that team in three yesterday [Friday]. That should never have happened."
Despite a big rally from the Avs to force the fifth set, the Chargers were able to come out on top and win 15-11.
The Avs barely lost out on the first set at 25-22, but came back to win the second at 25-19. The Chargers recovered to win the third set at 26-24 before the Avs won the marathon fourth set to head into the tiebreak.
The two teams met again on Saturday, and while the Avs took the first set at 25-18, the Chargers came back to win three in a row at 25-22, 27-25 and 25-23.
"Today [Saturday], both teams played well, I think they played some pretty flawless volleyball for most of it," added Fedechko. "So did we, but they just got the jump on us and that's just how it goes, I guess. It could've gone either way today."
Both teams will play host for the fourth straight time next weekend when they host the visiting Vancouver Island University Mariners.