Bubble braids, kicking ass and the emergence of new mascot: CapU Blues Baby
Kate Henderson (she/they) // Crew Writer
Cameron Skorulski (he/him) // Illustrator
After navigating the maze of concrete at Douglas College’s New Westminster campus, I finally found the Douglas gymnasium, where the Capilano University Blues women’s volleyball team faced off against the Douglas College Royals. As the teams assembled in rows to announce and celebrate each player’s position, one thing was clear: bubble braids were the top hairstyle of the day, with CapU’s team sporting them alongside star-shaped hair clips. But don’t mistake these for mere hairstyles, they were helmets, armed for battle in the showdown between the Blues and the Royals.
As the game kicked off, the players took their positions. One referee climbed to his podium, others with large red flags were stationed in the corners, and a man whose role I could only describe as ‘ball guy’ took his post, ready to supply fresh volleyballs as needed. The momentum built quickly, with CapU closely trailing Douglas’s score. By the second timeout, the teams were tied at 17–17. Amid spikes, blocks and huddles, the referees made countless hand signals, including one for when the ball hit the ceiling. After much floor-skidding action, CapU claimed victory in the first set, 25–23.
Once the Blues found their rhythm, the game was impossible to ignore; not just for the action on the court but also for the spectacles in the audience. There was a baby decked out in Blues merchandise (CapU Blues Baby!), shirtless men snoozing on a table behind the Royals team and, of course, ‘ball guy,’ relentlessly returning volleyballs to the game. Sitting behind me was the Blues men’s volleyball team. I spoke with Shub Wander and Cole Appleton, Science and Interdisciplinary Studies students at CapU respectively. Wander mentioned the women’s team had just a week of practices leading up to this game, yet they were “holding it up” in their first match of the new year. Appleton added that their last game was on November 27. Despite a month-long hiatus due to the school’s annual winter break, the CapU women’s team didn’t show any rust, winning the second set 25–19.
It’s amazing how much volleyball players flip and dive. As the third set began, players performed somersaults and three-person saves, leaping from the highest reaches on their toes to crouching slides on the floor. Sometimes, three players even collide while going for the same ball. These efforts came at full force, and CapU dominated, winning the set 15–3. The fourth and final set was a masterclass in teamwork and skill. From blocks to spikes to volleys, the Blues held their ground, securing a decisive 25–9 victory.
I turned to spot ‘ball guy,’ but he had vanished, likely retreating to his hideout, awaiting the next game’s signal to spring back into action. As the game ended, the team formed a victorious semicircle, exchanging high-fives, their bubble braids bouncing, while the audience, parents included, cheered.