The College of the Rockies Avalanche have made history, securing the CCAA Bronze Medal at the 2025 National Championship. After a hard-fought tournament, the Avs showcased resilience, skill, and teamwork to climb the podium in one of their most memorable seasons to date.
National Quarterfinal: Avs Battle Hard but Fall to Humber
In their opening match, the Avs faced the OCAA Champion Humber Hawks, with a spot in the CCAA semifinal on the line. As PacWest runners-up and tournament wildcards, the Avs started slowly but found their rhythm through the offensive firepower of Reed Grusing and Diego Policarpo. Despite pushing Humber to the limit, timely blocks by the Hawks secured them a 25-23 first-set win.
The second set saw the Avs start strong, leading late, but crucial missed serves at 24-23 and 26-25 proved costly as Humber edged ahead 2-0. Carrying that momentum, the Hawks capitalized on COTR errors in the third, sealing a 25-20 victory to advance.
Policarpo led the Avs offensively with 20 points but also had 12 hitting errors, while Grusing was named Player of the Match with 13 kills, 2 aces, and 2 blocks.
"Hats off to Humber tonight," said Coach Farrero. "They were composed on the big stage, and I thought we let the moment get to us a bit. This was a learning experience for us in discipline and cohesion under pressure, and we'll build from it."
National Consolation: Avs Respond with Back-to-Back Wins
Less than 24 hours later, the Avs returned to the court, determined to keep their medal hopes alive. Facing tournament hosts Providence Pilots, COTR dominated early, taking the first set convincingly. However, an injury to Reed Grusing in the second set shifted momentum, allowing the Pilots to tie the match with a 25-16 win.
Enter first-year Jhet Bowen, who came off the bench and provided the spark the Avs needed. With Noah Hadwen and Luke Margenau leading the attack, the Avs stormed back, winning the third set 25-16 and dominating the fourth to close the match 3-1. Margenau's all-around effort earned him Player of the Game honors.
"Wow, what a win," said Coach Farrero. "We bounced back in a huge way. Our defense was phenomenal, and our young guys stepped up big-time. If we continue playing like this, we'll be tough to beat."
Riding that momentum, the Avs then took on the CMU Blazers from Winnipeg, with a bronze medal match berth on the line. Fueled by a loud contingent of travelling Avs fans, COTR controlled the match from the start, sweeping CMU (25-19, 25-23, 25-20).
Policarpo was dominant with 20 kills, while Reece Clarke delivered a standout performance at libero, passing 2.6 and recording 11 digs.
"This was a really impressive win," said Farrero. "CMU played well, but when we side out like we did tonight, we're hard to handle. Our composure and swagger showed through."
Bronze Medal Match: Avs Complete the Journey
With a CCAA medal at stake, the Avs faced ACAA Champions USTA Dragons from Nova Scotia. USTA came out strong, controlling the first set 25-15 with an efficient attack and tough defense.
The Avs responded behind the serving of Diego Policarpo and the attacking of Noah Hadwen, evening the match with a 25-19 second-set victory. The Dragons bounced back to lead for most of the third, but down 22-17, the Avs rallied. Key kills from Albert Francisco, followed by a set-clinching block from Margenau, secured a dramatic 27-25 comeback win.
With momentum on their side and a roaring crowd behind them, the Avs pulled away in the fourth, closing the match with Policarpo's 10th kill, sealing a Bronze Medal victory.
Balanced offense was the key, with Francisco, Policarpo, and Hadwen each recording 10 kills, while Margenau had a career-best 16 points (9 kills, 5 blocks, 2 aces). Clarke once again led the defense with 10 digs, while Hadwen was named Player of the Game.
Policarpo's tournament performance earned him a 1st Team All-Star selection, while Margenau was named a 2nd Team All-Star.
"CCAA Bronze Medal winners—sounds pretty great, hey?" said Coach Farrero. "This is a huge milestone for our program. The PacWest conference prepared us for this moment, and we proved we belong among the best. This team has been unselfish and resilient all year. We had a different player step up every match, and our fans were incredible. I'm at a loss for words—just so proud to be an Av."