Chargers beat the Heat!!!

The 5th ranked Camosun College Chargers toppled the #1 UBC-Okanagan Heat tonight in three straight sets in Match #8 of the BCCAA Provincial Volleyball Championships hosted by Camosun College.

It was Camosun all the way as the Chargers unleashed a torrent of pent up power and skill including a game total of 51 digs upon their opponents.

In addition to commending his players for executing an excellent game, Chargers head coach Charles Parkinson gave the home crowd (many of whom sacrificed staying at home to watch the men’s Olympic hockey game to fill the Camsoun stands) a lot of credit.

“A home crowd can act as your seventh man and excite and inspire you to do things you would not ordinarily expect to accomplish as a player,” he said. This might be killing the impossible ball, making the impossible dig or setting the impossible pass. The crowd helps make the impossible, possible. Home court advantage can also get into the heads of the opposing players. When you know your own building so well - the lighting, how the ball moves around, what spatial cues to use, where to position yourself, etc, it gives your side a distinct advantage and can result in errors being committed by your opponents until they gain that intimate understanding.”

Players of the Match included second-year setter Sam Hillier (Surrey) from Camosun and second-year outside hitter Nate Speijer from UBCO.

While the Heat will meet the VIU Mariners for the bronze at 3pm tomorrow, the Chargers advance to the gold medal match (Match #12) at 8pm, where they will face the UFV Cascades for the Men’s 2010 BCCAA Volleyball Championship title!

Check out the post game interview with Chargers head coach Charles Parkinson and Player of the Match Sam Hillier on SportsCanadaTV.