The new head coach of the Delta Pacers senior boys volleyball team has been bleeding green for much of his life.
Andrew Robson is now in his second year as a full-time teacher at the Ladner high school and guiding a team he once starred for.
The transition to the senior level comes after Robson coached the junior boys team last year. He also helped out the program while he was attending Douglas College and Simon Fraser University and earning his teaching degree.
“I love it. I could’t be happier to be back. Obviously, I gained a lot of what I know as a player being part of this program,” said Robson who was coached by Delta Sports Hall of Fame inductee Barb Salt during his high school career. “Now it’s my opportunity to give back and put my own kind of touch on things. So far I have really enjoyed working with the kids. It’s a good group and it’s a matter of getting better every single day.”
The Pacers have been a fixture in the provincial “AAA” rankings for a number of years and this season is no different sitting 12th in the latest poll. Their roster features a pair of standout Grade 12s — Jagger Schurman and Gavin Payne — who helped the team capture its first Fraser Valley Championship in 17 years last season.
On Wednesday night in South Surrey, they got their first taste of the top ranked Earl Marriott Mariners in a battle of unbeaten teams in the Fraser Valley “AAA” South League.
The Mariners locked down first place with a 3-0 win. That means Delta will host third place Elgin Park on Monday (7:30 p.m.), looking to duplicate its sweep on Oct. 1. That would set up a rematch against Marriott back in South Surrey on Nov. 6 for the league title.
The Mariners and Pacers will also co-host the Fraser Valley Championships.
Robson needs no introduction to the Mariners’ roster. He has worked with many of their players as an assistant coach in Volleyball B.C.’s provincial team program.
“Obviously, they have a number of very talented players. They are an awesome group but at the same time I fully believe in our group and I have told them that since day one. We knew we had a tough one tonight but we have the luxury of probably seeing this team three times in three weeks.”
Robson watched his team enjoy a 17-15 lead during the second set before the Mariners erupted to score 10 of the next 14 points. Delta also enjoyed an early lead in set three when Marriott went on another big run and cruised to victory.
“We showed we could hang with them. Jagger made the comment of just believing in ourselves a bit more and I think that’s where we are at right now. Just getting to that point where we believe we can beat that team. It’s a matter of wrapping our heads around it.”
Salt built the Pacers into a perennial provincial tournament team back in the mid-1990s. However, the school has never won the B.C. championship over the 25-year span. That’s something Robson hopes to change.
“Developing a culture of wanting to get better every single day. That’s what it comes down to and not being afraid to make mistakes. It’s tough playing against teams like this but you got to show up and go for it,” said Robson who also serves as an assistant coach at Douglas College.
“You are pushing that culture and those characteristics but at the same time I think about (winning a provincial banner) all the time. I didn’t get the chance to win one as a player here.”
Now he’s in a position to do something about it.
