The court sports season has arrived in full force.

Vancouver Island University’s volleyball and basketball seasons all start the B.C. Colleges’ Athletic Association season the same night this Friday (Nov. 6).

All four teams made playoffs last year and all four expect to be there again. With all of them sharing the spotlight, the powerhouse women’s volleyball team definitely doesn’t have to carry the Mariners banner by itself.

“We haven’t felt the pressure and the stress that we usually do to be the No. 1 team,” said Shane Hyde, coach of the women’s v-ball squad.

But that doesn’t mean the team expects any less of itself. The only one of the Mariners’ four main court teams to reach nationals last year, the VIU ladies have the players to get there again.

Longtime captain Britt Grydeland has graduated from the program and all-Canadian Leigh Dreher has transferred to UBC-Okanagan, but all-star power hitter Lindsay McLoughlin is back for another season. Offensive threat Erin O’Doherty, middle Jacqueline Doleman and libero Aileen Holder are some of the other key veterans and rightsides Paige Wiebe and Shenise Power are rookies to watch.

The game plan will be similar to years past, with some minor tweaking. Hyde said the team is implementing a “bigger block,” with more players involved, and is working on a faster, more balanced attack.

It’s a work in progress, but that’s to be expected on the eve of the season.

“We’re not demanding that we’re perfect quite yet,” Hyde said. “When we’re a little more comfortable and confident, then those errors will be turning into points for us.”

GAME ON … The Mariners play Fraser Valley Friday at the VIU gym. The women play at 6 p.m.; the men at 8 p.m.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com