Chilliwack’s Dayton Pagliericci made last weekend’s University of the Fraser Valley mens’ volleyball match memorable, but not for anything that happened during the game.
Pagliericci’s Cascades beat the Columbia Bible College Bearcats in four sets, by scores of 21-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18.
Right after the match ended, Pagliericci grabbed a microphone and invited his girlfriend, Jenelle Stolberg Macdonald to centre court at the Envision Athletic Centre.
Jenelle obviously didn’t know what was about to happen as she tentatively made her way to the floor.
Seconds later the big man knelt on one knee and popped the question, ‘Will you marry me?’
Pagliericci said he’d been planning it since last May and it looked smooth on video.
But Pagliericci said the proposal wasn’t exactly what he planned.
“When I told Jenelle to come down and I saw her walking and she was looking all around, I was like, ‘This is happening. This is really happening,’” Pagliericci said. “Just a whole bunch of nerves came over me. I’m really good at public speaking but I was just mute, looking at her beautiful face.
“I was going to say her full name and everything and I literally blanked.
“I couldn’t couldn’t remember Laurie. I couldn’t remember Stolberg or MacDonald, so I just said, ‘Jenelle. I love ya. Will you marry me please?’”
Of course she said yes and hopped into his arms for a very long hug and kiss. Afterwards, Pagliericci was mobbed by his UFV teammates.
“I’m super-happy for him (Pagliericci), said Cascades coach Kyle Donen. “I’ve been around from the beginning of his playing career at UFV, and from the beginning of his relationship. It’s been fun to watch that grow.”