Providence Pilots women’s volleyball breaks through with MCAC title

After two years of heartbreak in provincial finals, the Providence Pilots women’s volleyball team was able to once again lift a trophy at the end of the season.

The Pilots swept the best-of-three finals with Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), at least somewhat erasing memories from the past two seasons, when the Blazers upset a heavily favoured Providence squad.

“It feels like a culmination of the last three years,” head coach Kyle Guenther said after the game, hosted at CMU.

“The core group has gone through two big heartbreaks and this feels so satisfying.”

Guenther announced he would be leaving Providence following the 2023 season, but eventually decided to return. Following a dramatic defeat in 2024, where the head umpire actually signalled the Pilots had won a championship match point before the decision was reversed, there was no question he would be back behind the bench this season.

The team admitted there was some nervousness another comeback could be on the way after CMU won the first set thanks to nine missed serves, but the Pilots were able to settle in and win the next three.

“It was a little scary for a moment,” two-time conference player of the year Tyra Peters said after the victory.

“I had full faith in the entire team, and I knew we would take this win. It was such a great moment.”

Amanda Bergen and Serena Algera joined Peters on the MCAC’s all-conference team. Bergen, the team’s primary setter, was also named the finals most valuable player.

“Today was a lot more mentally of a challenge, and we all grew mentally, which was a struggle last year,” Bergen said.

“One of the toughest things about this sport is growing mentally within your game.”

Guenther said while the coaching staff had emphasized the importance of the first set, he was confident Providence’s experience would shine through. The Pilots even trailed by five points throughout most of the third set, but were able to keep within distance before eventually overtaking their opposition.

“I trusted our abilities,” he said.

“We came back really, really strong in that second set and that really set the tone for the rest of the match.”

In the clinching game, Providence’s defensive power was on display, with the entire team showing great court awareness throughout the match, letting CMU attacks fall out of play instead of returning the ball out of uncertainty.

“In a pressure-filled moment they trusted their reads, they were confident in their abilities,” Guenther said.

“It was a treat to watch that.”

Both Bergen and Peters noted the team’s motto was “unity,” this season and it showed with the trust on allowing balls to fall out for points.

“You yourself don’t 100% know (if a ball is in or out) but if your team is doing their job then everyone can do their job,” Bergen said.

Providence threw a new defensive structure at CMU in game one of the final, to great effect, as they won 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-23).

“We executed to perfection,” Kyle Guenther said.

“That was the best match we could have asked of the team. They came through. That took so much pressure off the weekend.”

It’s the first trip to nationals for Providence in women’s volleyball, as the MCAC only joined the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association in 2022. Niverville and Providence are hosting the men’s national championship this year, and were recently announced as the hosts for women’s nationals in 2025.

“The fact we can get a nationals experience this year when we can guarantee a spot next year, just to have some familiarity with the tournament, with different teams across the country and be amongst the top eight teams for two years in a row, is a cool opportunity for sure,” Guenther said.

The CCAA women’s national championships take place in Oshawa, Ont., beginning March 5.

Providence’s men’s team also swept the MCAC finals, though they already had their spot at nationals locked up prior to winning due to hosting the tournament.