Sitting at 8-2 at the semester break is a spot that is quite comfortable from a make the playoffs stand point but it is not nearly solid enough for the Spartans to achieve some of the goals that they hope to achieve.
The first goal to be achieved is to secure a host playoff birth for the third consecutive year. To achieve that the Spartans will most likely need a minimum of 3 more wins in their remaining 8 games. While 3 would most likely do it 4 should clinch it. Where those wins will come from will be the difficult task, to be discussed later.
The second goal is to win the conference regular season title, a feat that has not yet been accomplished by the Spartan Men's Volleyball program. Not only would winning the conference regular season be unprecedented but it would also secure the host of the Canada West Final 4 as well as a bye through the first round of the playoffs and some much needed rest.
The third goal out there, and the one that has little direct baring on the regular season, is winning the "blue" banner or the conference tournament. By doing so TWU would capture its 2nd Canada West men's volleyball title (2007) and would be all but guaranteed a top 1 or 2 seed in the national tournament.
The fourth and final goal, and the ultimate prize, is the "red" banner or the National Title. After losing in the title match a year ago the Spartans have had their eyes set on a return to that match with a different outcome. The previous goals all make this final goal a little easier but none of them will matter if this final goal is the only one accomplished.
These goals were set at the beginning of the season by the team and they have been training and playing hard to achieve them. While they would be nice to achieve they have no relationship to the fact the Spartans are in the National Tournament in March at the Langley Events Centre. Having a guaranteed host birth to compete for a national title is a nice fall back this year's edition of Spartan Men's Volleyball has not intention of using the host birth.
The National Championship is not necessarily won by the best team during the whole season but rather the team that is playing the best at the end of the season. The second semester provides the perfect build up towards that end.
The semester begins with a matchup with the University of Calgary Dinos (10-0) who not only are the defending National Champions but also sit alone atop the Canada West standings. The semester opening weekend should show the Spartans just where they are at with regards to their goals and their level of performance. In order to win the regular season the Spartans will most likely have to capture a sweep of the Dinos on home court and then would still need some help as Alberta & Manitoba only have 1 loss each.
The second weekend sees the Spartans travel to Saskatoon to play the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. While the Huskies are 1-9 at this point they are a very talented and dangerous team that still have a real chance of making the playoffs but will need to string together some quality wins, including the TWU weekend.
The third weekend is one of the "trap" weekends for TWU this semester as they travel to Brandon to take on the Bobcats. At 4-6 the Bobcats are in a spot few thought they would be in at the beginning of the season. Brandon was a preseason favorite to win the conference boasting the reigning CIS Player of the Year in Paul Sanderson (5th, Left Side, Australia). The Bobcats have underachieved thus far this season but as mentioned earlier it is not what teams do so much in the first semester rather how they are playing at the end of the second. The Spartans meet up with the Bobcats in the second to last regular season weekend and the host team should be in post season form and have shaken off the first semester's performance woes.
The second semester wraps up back in Langley as the Spartans play host the the Manitoba Bisons who are this year's surprise team. After missing the playoffs last season the Bisons have shot out to an impressive 11-1 record and are sitting tied for 2nd place in the conference. Manitoba had the luxury of a "softer" first semester but their level of play has been impressive none the less. Many of the Spartans goals will hang in the balance on Senior Weekend in Langley as playoff positioning and potentially the conference title may hang in the balance.
Upon the conclusion of regular season play the Spartans will enter the playoff phase of the season. The first round, if TWU does not earn a bye by winning the regular season title, consists of a best of three series. The winners of the three playoff series advance to the Final 4 to be hosted by the conference title winner. From there the top three plus TWU will advance to the National Championship at the Langley Events Centre March 4-6.
As evidenced the second semester is truly a sprint where every weekend is a must perform. The ability of a team to build their level of play towards the first weekend in March is the team that will have the best chance of playing their best when it counts the most. The top of the Canada West standings remains very tight with many match ups between those teams in the second semester. There could be much movement in the standings and rankings throughout the semester and nothing will be certain at any point.
To that end the Spartans enter the semester's play with a tough resolve to earn the right to be at the National Championship. It will take unbelievable focus and determination to prepare for each coming weekend's challenge for what it is. Finally it will take unmatched resiliency to respond to stumbles along the way for no Champion is that without adversity. It is the team that takes on adversity head on, conquers it and moves on quickly and intentionally that will be best prepared for the final weekend.
It will be an exciting finish to the 2010-2011 season...
Go Spartans!!!
Location:Langley, BC
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