January 15th, 2009
Edmonton, Alberta - Coast House Hotel
Here we are in snowy & cold Edmonton...again. About to play the #1 team in the country Alberta Bears...again. Undefeated...again. Playoff positioning on the line...again.
I'm not sure how many times we've come here around this time of year with gigantic playoff implications on the line.
2003: Spartans fighting for their first ever program birth to Nationals and things looking good. To this point have never beaten U of A in a league game much less in Edmonton. The Spartans battle hard and earn an 11-6 lead in the 5th. Eventual 2003 CIS Player of the Year Pascal Cardinal goes back to serve and rattles off 7 straight to go up 14-11 before the Spartans can side out only to lose 15-12 in five heart breaking sets. The Spartans eventually lost a tie break and missed nationals again.
2004: Spartans battling with a young line up and fighting against injuries and to find a consistent line up. First night the Bears clean up 3-0 on the Spartans in Langley. With not much to lose and needing to make a run to make playoffs in a admirable position Ron Pike changes line ups. Moves 5th year left side Jason Hofer to libero and inserts Seth Schalk. Sits 5th year right side Chris Roy for freshman phenom Steve Rogalsky. With Josh Howatson, Chris Meehan, Justin Pankratz and Jeff Stel rounding out the line up the Championship cycle starts their first game together and proceed to beat the Bears in league for the first time in TWU history. This same line up, with one change at libero, would beat those same Bears in the most lopsided CIS final in history.
2005: CIS National Final. Highest scoring final in CIS history. Closest CIS final in history and in many opinions, including my own, the greatest volleyball match in a national final ever.
2006: CIS National Final. Lowest scoring final in CIS history (games to 25 only). Most lopsided final in CIS history and in many opinions, including my own, the worst volleyball match in a national final ever...and Spartanville loved every minute of it.
2007: Canadwest playoff positioning hanging in the balance. 5 great teams only 4 births to Nationals. Toba, Berta, Tee-Dub, Birds & the Peg all battling to be one of those teams and no one wanted to end up in the 4 vs 5 match up in Canada West playoffs. With two options available the the Spartans to avoid the 4-5 match up hopes were low in Spartanland. All the Spartans had to do was go into Edmonton and sweep the number 1 team in the country. Never mind that TWU had never beaten Alberta in Edmonton, to do it twice was too much to ask. The only other scenario that would help the Spartans avoid the eventual 5th place Bisons would be to win 3-0 and lose 2-3...ONLY. Friday night...mission accomplished 3-0. First ever win in Edmonton. Now to take two more sets. Bears take first two...Spartans take second 2...who cares what happened in the fifth. Spartans win Canada West, advance to Nationals for fourth consecutive year and receive their fourth consecutive medal (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Bronze).
2008: #1 Bears roll into Langley and beat up on a young Spartan team and get out of town only putting in 2 hours of work in on route to their third national championship in seven years.
2009: #1 Bears, undefeated. Only dropped four sets all season and those were in two matches (Brandon & TRU). Young and inconsistent Spartan group rolls into Edmonton with dreams of competing in March in their minds. Will this be another chapter in the epic second semester battles between Bear & Spartan or is this 2008 all over again?
Stay Tuned.
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.Go Spartans !!!
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