Mariners Promote Luke Holmes To Coach Women's Hoops

When a program of such notoriety as VIU goes through a coaching change, the common choice is to promote an internal candidate to maintain continuity, and the reigning national champions have done just that.

A two-sport athlete in his youth, Luke Holmes has spent the past eight years as the top assistant on Tony Bryce's staff as the head of player development.

Holmes took an unorthodox path to his current position. While basketball was in his blood, he was no slouch on the soccer pitch either. He began his career as a varsity soccer player, playing for UNBC in his hometown of Prince George.

Across two seasons with the Timberwolves, Holmes only recorded one point, an assist, but shined as a strong defensive midfielder, winning UNBC's Coach's Award in 2014. (For current Mariners fans, think of Declan Brown as a comparison.)

Ahead of the 2015 season, Holmes transferred to VIU, where he took on an increased role under head coach Bill Merriman. His collegiate career culminated in 2017, where he and the Mariners won a CCAA national championship on home turf.

In 2018, he signed on as an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at VIU, returning to the sport that made him famous as a Condor. In his first two seasons, the Mariners won back-to-back PACWEST titles, nearly doubling their total at that point.

2022 began the golden age of VIU basketball. The Mariners, designated as the host team for that year's national championship, went a perfect 17-0 in the regular season, but were upset by the Okanagan Coyotes in the title game. Despite the setback, the Mariners advanced to the national title game on their home court, but were felled again, this time by NAIT.

In 2023, it finally came together. After winning the PACWEST title over the top-seeded Capilano Blues, the Mariners advanced to nationals in Hamilton. Once again, they advanced to the national title game, defeating Saint-Jean to win their first national title in 25 years.

Now, in 2026, the Mariners once again stand atop the country and are prepared to defend their title.

Mariners Hire Eric D'Andrea As Next Head Coach

The defending PACWEST champions are starting their offseason strong.

For the first time in fourteen years, there's a new sheriff in town, and it's a face Mariners fans should remember quite fondly.

Eric D'Andrea (pronounced dan-DRAY-uh) spent five years in the collegiate ranks, first with the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack in Kamloops. After one season, he transferred to VIU, where he would play for the rest of his college career.

His first season in Nanaimo started with a bang: After sneaking into nationals as the PACWEST runner-up, the Mariners won the national title over the ACAA's Holland Hurricanes.

Throughout much of his career as a two-way forward, the Mariners remained in consistent title contention, winning three consecutive PACWEST titles and advancing to the national championship twice in 2013 and 2015.

Since his playing career ended, D'Andrea has coached at Split Second Academy in the Lower Mainland. Many players at the academy have gone on to play at the collegiate level, including Langara Falcons forward Aaron Ungprasert and recent Capilano commit Jessica Williams. Even after accepting the position at VIU, he will remain with Split Second as an advisor.

In assembling his coaching staff, D'Andrea enlisted the help of his teammates in 2013, namely Jon Bethell and Connor Billett. Their championship pedigree will be a great fit for VIU's battle-tested lineup.

The Mariners will host an ID camp on May 2nd and begin the 2026-27 season later this October.

Women's Gold Match Recap: Swan Song

Two things were apparent before Saturday's tipoff.

There would be a winner, and there would be a loser.

What most people wouldn't notice at first is the impending departure of VIU's biggest faces, regardless of outcome.

If the Mariners wanted to send Tony Bryce, Kaia Simpson, Rachel Labrador, and Mackenzie Cox off as national champions, they'd have to face a gutsy Fanshawe team looking for their first national title.

VIU 72, Fanshawe 58

The first quarter started just like the games against St. Thomas and Saint-Jean. It began as a close affair with the Falcons taking a narrow lead after the first ten minutes.

What should've been a red flag for VIU was a sign of relief.

They've been in these close games before.

They've been in two in this tournament alone and won both of them.

They wanted the hat trick.

A three-pointer by Sidney Deleary put the Falcons up by five, but the Mariners got it back within a basket on an and-one layup from Sarah Cook. Though Fanshawe kept their lead for a majority of the quarter through well-timed layups and clutch free throws, they failed to recognize something that had slain other teams before.

The Mariners are inevitable.

An Emily Sprott layup gave the Mariners a 37-35 lead with just under two minutes left in the second quarter. Through a combination of free throws and a late layup from graduating point guard Mackenzie Cox, VIU took a seven-point lead into halftime.

The lead would not slip for the rest of the night.

The Mariners led by as much as 17 in the final quarter through timely shooting and relentless zone defense. Despite a valiant push from the underdog Falcons, their chance at history was denied.

For the second time in four seasons and the third time in program history, the VIU Mariners stand atop the Canadian basketball world.

Sarah Cook saved her best performance of the season for last, scoring a game-high 18 points and adding seven rebounds. Sammy Shields and Kaia Simpson both came off the bench and added 17 and 10 points respectively. Kiayra Hohlweg added eleven rebounds, while Mackenzie Cox swung the rock six times, tying for the game lead.

Ashlyn Anderson had another strong performance for the Falcons, recording a 16-13 double-double. Edith Eseme added 14 points on 50% shooting, while Sidney Deleary and Layla Mackenzie combined for 23 points in the loss.

This marks the final collegiate game for Mackenzie Cox, Rachel Labrador, and Kaia Simpson as players. It also marks the last game for Mariners head coach Tony Bryce, who announced his retirement earlier in the season. Longtime assistant coach Luke Holmes will succeed him, while former VIU forward Mackenzie Hall will join him as his lead assistant.

Women's Semifinals Recap: Time Machine

These two teams met for national gold in Hamilton three years ago. The Mariners emerged victorious over Saint-Jean, winning their second national title in program history, and their first since 1998. Will history repeat itself today?

VIU 62, Saint-Jean 56

The past few seasons haven't been kind to VIU. In 2024, they had to settle for PACWEST bronze after a semifinal loss to Douglas. In 2025, they fell in the bronze semifinals.

This year, things are different.

Tony Bryce has said multiple times this season that he didn't want to rebuild: He wanted to reload. The Mariners kept that promise with a semifinal victory over the RSEQ champion Geants de Saint-Jean.

The first half couldn't be further from the game against St. Thomas if it tried. Both teams found their shooting form early as VIU led by as much as seven, but Saint-Jean caught fire late to get it back within a basket after the first quarter. The second quarter was more of the same, as the Mariners took a four-point lead into halftime despite a late three from Deborah Damoah.

VIU's stout defense faltered early in the third quarter, and the Geants took their first lead at the quarter's halfway mark. After a brief period of trading the lead, Saint-Jean started to pull away and got the lead up to five in the fourth, but an and-one layup from Sarah Cook followed almost immediately by another layup from Trista Thorn tied the game for VIU. Sammy Shields hit a three on VIU's ensuing possession to give the Mariners the lead for good. Though the Geants tied it later in the quarter, VIU took the lead right back and held on. 

For the fourth time in program history, and the third time in the past five seasons, the VIU Mariners will play for a national championship.

Sammy Shields led all scorers with 16 points off the bench. Trista Thorn and Kiayra Hohlweg were close behind with 14 and 12 respectively, with Thorn adding 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Deborah Damoah led the Saint-Jean effort with 14 points, while Madina-Aissata Cisse and Juliette Gargya had 13 and 12 respectively. Cricually, Saint-Jean's only bench points came from a three by Serine Addouche.

The Mariners will have one day of rest before the final game of the season. They will face the OCAA champion Fanshawe Falcons. Tip-off is at 4:30 PM PT.

Women's Quarterfinals Recap: Tommie Genesis

While their male compatriots battle the country's best on their home court, the ladies march into battle against the team that hosted the big dance last year, the ACAA champion St. Thomas Tommies.

VIU 56, St. Thomas 41

The Mariners had a lot fun holding teams to single digits in the first quarter this season.

Apparently it's not as fun when they're the ones stuck in the mud.

The lack of offense wasn't from lack of trying: Both VIU and St. Thomas shot a combined 5-35 in the first quarter and 2-14 from three.

Both teams heated up in the second quarter as St. Thomas maintained their lead, but it never got higher than four. A Sarah Cook jump shot at the buzzer got it within one going into the half.

Paige Leblanc made a pair of free throws to get the lead back up to three, but a pair of jump shots from Sarah Cook and Kaia Simpson gave VIU a lead they would never relinquish. The Mariners turned a one-point deficit into a thirteen point lead over the course of the quarter, getting contributions from all around their lineup.

VIU and St. Thomas were evenly matched in the fourth quarter, but the lead was too large for the Tommies to overcome. The Mariners ride into the national semifinals for the first time since 2023.

Kaia Simpson was named VIU's player of the game and did what she's done so often this season. She dropped a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench, leading the Mariners in both categories. VIU's only other double digit scorer, Sammy Shields, also came off the bench, scoring 11 points.

St. Thomas' player of the game, Paige LeBlanc, was the only Tommie to eclipse double digits in scoring with 13 points. The CCAA player of the year, Charlee Connors, was held to only 7 points, but pulled down 11 rebounds, the most by any player.

With TKU's loss to Dawson later in the day, the Mariners are the highest ranked team remaining. They face the second-highest ranked team, the Geants de Saint-Jean, in the semifinals on Thursday. The winner of that game will face either the OCAA champion Fanshawe Falcons or the host Dawson Blues. St. Thomas moves to the bronze bracket, where they will face the NAIT Ooks in the bronze quarterfinals.

Men's Gold Match Recap: The Shot Heard Round The World

Remember when we thought VIU vs. Langara was the game of the year? Those were good times.

VIU 78, Camosun 75

This is the kind of game that people talk about decades later.

The first quarter went as expected: It was a low-scoring affair between two strong defenses.

A 14-7 lead was VIU's to cherish after the first, but Camosun did what they've done so many times this season and rallied back to take a one-point lead at the half.

VIU took the lead back going into the fourth, but it wouldn't last long. A Cormick Brown three galvanized the crowd at PISE, tying the game at 54. Though the Chargers took the lead many times, they could never lead by more than one.

Winston Cole hit a jumper to increase VIU's lead to five with 77 seconds to go, but Thomas Beames retaliated to get it back within three. All Winston had to do was convert a layup, and VIU would surely win the title.

He missed.

Rebound, Tyler Synesael.

Camosun wastes no time on their ensuing possession. PACWEST MVP David Finch converts an and-one layup to tie the game with 38 seconds left.

If the Chargers win tonight, he's a legend in Victoria.

VIU had possession coming out of their last timeout, but Keyonte Beals missed a crucial layup.

Here we go again.

David Finch again.

Missed layup with 14 seconds left.

Destiny no longer in Camosun's hands.

Winston Cole holds onto the ball for what feels like an eternity. With two seconds left, he dishes the ball to a wide-open Kai Leighton.

Catch.

Shoot.

Swish.

The VIU Mariners are PACWEST champions on a last-second shot and rip out the hearts of the Camosun faithful.

Kai Leighton etches his name into VIU lore with a shot that felt like Roger Daltrey's primal yell at the end of "Won't Get Fooled Again." He finished the game with 21 points and was named Player of the Game and Tournament MVP. Keyonte Beals scored 20 points in the victory and Winston Cole added 13 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter alone. Both of them were named Tournament All-Stars. Ryan Bastian also added eight points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.

David Finch and Tyler Synesael each recorded a double-double in the loss: Finch had 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Synesael had 14 and 10. Finch and Thomas Beames were both named to the All-Star team.

Both teams will represent the PACWEST in two weeks at the CCAA national championship in Nanaimo. VIU enters as the conference champion, while Camosun takes the conference's wild card spot.

Women's Gold Match Recap: Determination

Who said anything about rebuilding?

VIU 61, Douglas 43

VIU led 41-6 after the second quarter, but let their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter. The Royals mounted a furious comeback in the fourth, but the lead was too large to overcome. The Mariners win their second straight PACWEST championship, and their sixth in the past seven seasons.

VIU's offense, as has been the case all season long, came by committee. Sarah Cook and Sammy Shields had 11 and 10 points respectively, while Trista Thorn grabbed six rebounds.

Denise Mendoza led all scorers with 13 points. Mackenzie Dalphond added eight points for Douglas while pulling down 10 rebounds.

Both teams will represent the PACWEST at this year's CCAA national championship. VIU will enter as the conference champion, while Douglas settles for a wild card berth.

Men's Semifinals Recap: Pendulum

VIU 94, Capilano 80

The streak lives!

For the 17th year in a row, the VIU Mariners are back in the conference title game after a convincing victory over the team that bested them last March.

A 25-18 first quarter gave VIU the confidence they needed. They never trailed after the first four minutes, controlling play every step of the way and neutralizing Capilano's ferocious frontcourt.

Ryan Bastian led all scorers with 20 points and 8 rebounds, also adding six assists and two steals. He was joined in double-digits by Winston Cole's 21 points, Keyonte Beals' 17, and Kai Leighton's 12. Kaleb Wilson only had two points, but they came in theatric fashion on a game-ending dunk.

Kash Lang led Capilano with 13 points. Zach Klim wasn't far behind with 12 points, but was only held to five rebounds. Anthony Tamburrino added 10 points off the bench.

VIU will face the top-seeded Camosun Chargers tomorrow night for a PACWEST title. No matter what happens, both teams will represent the PACWEST at the CCAA national championship in Nanaimo. Capilano pivots to their bronze matchup against Okanagan in what will be the final collegiate game for Kash Lang.