The College of the Rockies’ Avalanche volleyball program will be playing the same teams this upcoming season, but under a different collective flag.

The Avs have been a part of the former British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association, commonly known as the BCCAA, but will now be part of the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST).

“We are very proud to be carrying on the tradition of excellence in sport and education that the British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association has been known for. We feel the PACWEST name does an excellent job of identifying who we are and what we do and will give us a significant advantage as we implement our marketing plans. The PACWEST name and logo will soon be synonymous with athletic excellence in Canada,” said Bruce Hunter, PACWEST president.

“PACWEST is a better representation of current membership which encompasses both colleges and universities, which was not reflected in the BCCAA name,” noted Cori Andrichuk, COTR manager of campus life and athletics. “As well the new name has a broader marketability which will allow it to become synonymous with our tradition of sport excellence.  As for how it impacts the Avalanche, there really isn’t an impact aside from the ability for better brand recognition.”

Things are beginning to take a solid shape at main campus in terms of the Avalanche gearing up for a longer volleyball season.

“The upcoming season is looking really good. The teams will be playing 24 matches this year compared to the 18 they played last season.  We have six returning players on the women’s team and five new recruits.  The men’s team has eight returning players and six new recruits.  The men’s team is looking to repeat their trip to Provincials this season and improve on the result,” Andrichuk reported.

PACWEST is comprised of 14 member institutions competing in soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, cross country running and golf.

PACWEST is a member of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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