The resurgence of the Capilano University men’s volleyball program is a work in progress.
While the men’s team lags in the overall PacWest league standings, at 6-8, it has posted a respectable 6-5 record since the start of November – including winning both sides of a home-and-home this past weekend against Burnaby native Curtis Stelzer’s Columbia Bible College (CBC).
And where does Burnaby play a role in Cap’s improved fortunes?
The addition of Moscrop alum Justin Yee is part of a large freshmen contingent which has the North Vancouver school’s coach Emmanuel Denguessi pleased with the progress, which was spotlighted in a win against then-undefeated Vancouver Island University six weeks ago.
“In terms of numbers, it’s not what we want,” Denguessi said about the team’s record prior to sweeping CBC. “[The win over VIU] shows us something: that we can compete with all of the teams. On a good day, we can beat anyone. But I think we need to be able to repeat this kind of performance, which is very hard when you have a lot of freshmen.
“But our goal right now for the players is to have that game as a reference, but not just as ‘we have done that,’ but ‘we should do that every single day.’”
Yee’s contributions have been impressive for a first-year collegiate player.
Coming from a high school that was a solid challenger at the provincial level, Yee has an intensity which is an easy fit for Denguessi’s gameplan.
Listed at 5-foot-11, he has emerged as a team leader in kills and total offence despite starting the year slotted in as back-up setter.
At an early practice Yee asked the coaches if he could try out at right side hitter, and made that transition easily.
“He’s been able to surpass our expectations,” said Denguessi. “We said we were going to give him a chance to show off what he could do, and we found out that he has been one of our most consistent power hitters, with a very good serve.”
Prior to this past weekend, Yee stood eighth in the league in digs, averaging 2.26 per set, ninth in kills, and 11th in aces, good for eighth in total offensive stats.
CBC’s middle hitter, 6-foot-3 Stelzer, is ninth overall in blocks.
Under Denguessi, the bar has been raised for the Blues not only on the court but off it, as well.
The former Cameroon national team member, who launched his college playing career at Capilano while at the same time learning English, wants his team to reach a 3.0 GPA.
It’s an important part of the student-athlete balance, said Denguessi.
“It’s feasible,” he said about excelling on the court and in the classroom, “and I want to encourage my athletes to do the same. … They have been selected purposely because they were academic-oriented guys in high school. The message wasn’t hard to sell, and they have embraced that.”
