After a much-needed bye weekend, the Avalanche returned to action having regained the CCAA #1 national ranking and eager to prove they belonged at the top. Their visitors, the 5–3 Capilano Blues, were ready for battle, and the opening match on Friday night quickly turned into a classic PACWEST showdown.
The Avs edged out a tight first set 26–24, powered by a Boston Thiessen-led offence that was firing on all cylinders, but Capilano answered by controlling the second set to even the match. Despite trailing for most of the third, the Avalanche showed the composure of a top-ranked team, clawing back late and stealing the set 28–26 to go ahead 2–1. Capilano, however, refused to fade—heavy service pressure helped them grab the fourth set 25–23, pushing the match to a fifth-set tiebreak.
In the decisive set, COTR captain and reigning PACWEST Player of the Year Diego Policarpo rose to the moment with five early kills, helping the Avs race out to a 6–1 lead before finishing off the match 15–9. It capped off a phenomenal offensive performance that included 27 kills from Dylan Annala and 18 from Policarpo, with Thiessen stabilizing the defence with 10 digs while running an efficient offence with 53 assists.
After the win, Coach Cisco Farrero noted how difficult Capilano made things: he said the Blues "played extremely well" and that the Avs "had a hard time making them uncomfortable in their system," praising Cap's three skilled outside hitters who "gave us all we could handle." Farrero highlighted how his group responded in crucial moments, adding that he loved how the Avs "rose to the occasion and elevated our side-out game." He pointed to Annala's 27 points as "huge," noting that Dillon carried the early stretches while Policarpo was "spectacular at the end," and credited Jack, Noah, and Albert for the "dirty work," while Reece and Boston remained "as consistent as always." He wrapped it up simply: "It was a great win for us against a really good opponent."
Saturday Sweep
With Friday's five-setter behind them, the Avs aimed for a sharper, more controlled performance on Saturday—and delivered. They built an early lead in the opening frame and withstood a late Capilano push to take it 25–22, then repeated the formula in the second set. Middle Luke Margenau delivered a timely ace out of a Cap timeout, extending the lead before Policarpo closed the set 25–22 with a perfectly placed off-speed shot.
The third set showcased just how dominant the Avalanche offence can be when firing at full power. Fourth-year opposite Dylan Annala erupted for seven kills and two blocks in the set, helping COTR cruise 25–16 to secure the sweep and head into the holiday break at 9–1, holding a three-game lead atop the PACWEST.
Reflecting on the rematch, Farrero shared that the coaching staff and players made several targeted adjustments during their morning video session, aiming to disrupt Capilano's rhythm and force their setter into tougher situations. "Our group installed those changes seamlessly," he said, noting that the Avs' block and defensive phase looked "much more in sync" than the night before. He contrasted Friday's "spectacular side-out game" with Saturday's "awesome transition game," and highlighted the team's elite defensive core—Reece, Albert, and Boston—who "make it tough for opponents to score." With that foundation and a multi-dimensional offence, Farrero expressed confidence that the Avs "can win in a number of ways," calling Saturday's sweep "a great way to finish the semester" and a strong position to carry into the stretch run.
