March 10th, 2011 - Langley, BC
After taking on the Spartans' biggest rivals in the quarter-final and semi-final and going the distance in both the question on everyone's minds was "do the Spartans have enough left for one more match?" The physical and emotional toll on the team was extensive but for 365 days the Spartans had been preparing for another shot at the Title. Emotion would not be an issue. To help the Spartans along the way was a sellout of the Langley Events Centre. Everywhere you looked there were Spartan Faithful yellow t's, painted bodies, noise makers holding noise makers and all the rest of those who came to see this team of destiny, the Spartans.
The pre-game speech was simple: "take a look around you...(pause as the athletes looked around the team room looking each other in the eye)...enough said...1-2-Spartans!!!" Simple statements often say more than enough. In that moment those who were about to take the court in the Championship final needed to look no further for all the motivation they would need than the guy on their left and right. This team had been building all year with the "band of brothers" mentality. The question was not "what would you do for your brother" rather "what wouldn't you do?" With their tanks full and joy in their hearts the Spartans ran into the LEC to an eruption of noise that no one has heard in that building...yet.
Very early it was clear the Spartans had saved their best for the final as they rolled through the first set blocking their way to a 25-12 set win. The game plan was also simple: serve tough and block Paul Sanderson. The 2009-2010 CIS Player of the Year is maybe the country's most dangerous hitter and for the Spartans to be successful they would have to limit his impact for the Brandon Bobcats. Set 1 = mission successful as the Spartans held the Bobcats to a staggering -30% attack efficiency or in normal terms 5 kills & 15 attack errors and even simpler terms, not good. Set 1 was won by the Spartans and Spartan Faithful on sheer emotion. As the match continued the Spartans fervor slowly came back to a "normal" level as the Bobcats began to make adjustments and adapt to the ruckus environment. The Spartans held on for a 25-22 lead and won their first set of the tournament on the "away" side of the gym.
Set 3 saw the Bobcats continue to find their rhythm and the Spartans showed signs of the weariness that anyone could expect after playing 10 sets the previous 2 nights of all out inspired volleyball. The game was tight through the early and middle sections with the Spartans behind by just 2 points (14-16). The Bobcats made a surge in the final third of the game and took a 23-20 lead and were looking to extend the night and delay the celebration. At that point the Spartans rallied in one last ditch effort to get back into the game and did they ever:
20-23: Brandon hits out of bounds
21-23: Ball & Jansen Van Doorn Roof Block
22-23: Lucas Van Berkel serves the Ace
23-23: Brandon Kill by Paul Sanderson
23-24: Rudy kills the ball to tie the game
24-24: Rudy is blocked to give Brandon the advantage
24-25: Brandon misses their serve, the Faithful strike again
25-25: Rudy serves and Brandon is called for a setting violation, the LEC goes nuts...match point Spartans
25-26: With the whole gym standing, arms raised and the familiar single finger held high signifying "One More Point," Rudy serves, Brandon sets Sanderson on a pipe, the Spartans are ready with a 3 man block...BLOCKED!!! GAME OVER!!! SPARTANS WIN, SPARTANS WIN, SPARTANS WIN!!!
Nearly 500 Spartan Faithful rush the team as the student section emptied onto the court in the most beautiful scene of blue, yellow, white, paint, sticks, pots, pans and bodies strewn about the playing floor. When the scene couldn't be more perfect two athletes rise above the crowd. Rudy Verhoeff and Ben Ball are picked up by some Faithful and amongst the sea of Yellow and Blue two White clad figures are held high with arms raised overlooking the celebration. It was a visual that none of us in attendance will ever forget. The joy, relief and elation in the moment was one of those things you wish you could bottle and send around the world. After much jumping, cheering, hugging and crying the floor was cleared for the medal presentations.
Almost no one left as the crowd waited patiently for the Spartans to receive what they earned...medals, banner & Tantramar Trophy all signifying they are National Champions. The crowd cheered as each team member received their medals and the joy on the faces of the Spartans lit up the LEC. Then the moment came, the "Captains" were called up to receive the trophy and banner. As is the custom with the Spartan Men's Volleyball team there are really no captains. There is a floor captain, as needed by volleyball regulations, and there are leaders. This year there were 15 of them, each called to add their own flavor of leadership to the group in an attempt to reduce the burden the team had to bear. So the two fifth year graduating seniors, Josh Doornenbal and Mikiah Schalk, joined the floor captain Rudy Verhoeff in accepting the symbols of the Championship. The team rushed to join in the hoisting of the Tantramar for the program's second time (2006, also 3-0). Then the photo op that every team in September dreams of. With the Tantramar sitting front and centre, the Championship banner draped on the floor extending from a most jubilant group of young men all with "one finger raised." For the first time that weekend the "one" didn't signal the need for one more point, it was in recognition that after heart break a year ago, a full year of training, lifting, sweating, failing and succeeding they had earned the right to be #1...CIS National Champions.
The question was posed more than a few times in the post game, "how were the guys able to play with so much passion and precision after such a tough first two days of the tournament?" The week leading up to the tournament the team used the example of Eric Liddell, gold medalist and subject of the movie Chariots of Fire. There is a youtube clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwyltmUR3MU&feature=related) where Liddell states that God has created him for a purpose, but he also created him fast, when he runs he feels God's pleasure. That same message was given to the guys. They two were created by God for a purpose, but they were also created with amazing gifts and talents that lend themselves to volleyball. The team attempted to enjoy their gifts and talents with the intent of feeling God's pleasure when they played. So how did they play three exceptional matches in three days, emptying their tanks each and every one? The felt God's pleasure and the Joy it provided gave more than enough emotion and resilience to compete.
The post game speech wasn't so simple. The Championship weekend saw the team come full circle as they revisited many of the Spiritual principles that were laid down in Russia. The concepts of Freedom, Point Match and feeling God' pleasure in doing whatever they do were rooted deep within the psyche of each one. These lessons were learned through competing in a volleyball tournament but the challenge was laid out to the team that they now must take these lessons with them as they move beyond volleyball. As they move into careers, become husbands and fathers these lessons learned will help make improvements to all the phases of their lives. This Championship's legacy will not just hang on the wall of the David E. Enarson Gymnasium but it will serve as a constant reminder to these 15 young men that God will Honor those who Honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30).
Go Spartans!!!
2012 CIS National Champs
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
CIS National Championship 2011 Review: Semi Final vs Calgary Dinos
March 9th, 2011 - Langley, BC
After defeating arguably the best team in the country in the quarter-final of the National Tournament the Spartans' road did not get any easier with their semi-final opponent, the University of Calgary Dinos. While the rivalry with the Dinos is not as deep programatically as with the Alberta Bears, the rivalry between the current teams was significantly deeper. These team's rivalry started the last weekend of November in 2009 when the Dinos were the #1 ranked team in the country and the Spartans traveled to Calgary with designs on knocking them off that perch. The first night went the home team's way with the Dinos winning a 3-1 decision. The Spartans were very determined to earn a split and the team leaders "asked" the coaching staff to leave the gym during the Saturday practice and led the training session themselves. That evening the Spartans came out firing on all cylinders earning a similar 3-1 win in a very chippy match. The rivalry between the current rosters had begun to take shape.
Stage two of the rivalry saw the two teams meet in the Canada West semi-final in Edmonton. The game was a see-saw affair with the Spartans ultimately winning in 5 grueling sets and earning a birth in the Canada West final and relegating the Dinos to a much tougher draw at the National Tournament. The final meeting of the 2009-10 season was in the National Final where the Dinos exacted some revenge on the Spartans by breaking their hearts in yet another 4 set match. The feelings from that match would sit and resonate with the Spartans all summer long and provide the motivation for their training all season.
The 2010-2011 season saw chapter three in the story unfold as the Dinos, as defending CIS National Champions, ran out to a 10-0 start in conference play. The eventual rematch from the previous year's final came in the Spartan Holiday Classic in early 2011 at the Langley Events Centre. The Spartans won the match convincingly 3-0 and prematurely satisfied their need for redemption. The problem was these two teams would play in conference play just two weeks later. After the Spartans took the first set of the weekend 25-15 in dominant fashion the Dinos reeled off 6 consecutive sets to earn the sweep in Spartan-land. The losses rattled the Spartans as the same team that broke their hearts the previous March had cut them deeply again. The next meeting between these two powers was the 2011 Canada West semi-final and in a mirror image of the previous year the Dinos dropped the first set, took sets 2 & 3, lost 4 and won the 5th and advanced to the Canada West final which they won over the Brandon Bobcats.
The loss returned the favor from the previous year and gave the Spartans the tough draw at the National Tournament setting up the final meeting of the year in the National semi-final. While the Alberta Bears were an opponent that allowed the Spartans to play in their strength areas of physicality and net play, the Dinos were much different. Calgary forced the Spartans to pass and defend as they served primarily float serves and didn't allow the Spartan block to take over the matches. The battle of contrasting styles had gone the Dinos way more than not and the 2011 semi would be a battle of each team trying to impose their style on the match to swing the advantage in their favor.
The first game had the Spartans put up 10 blocks in the set and it was clear that TWU had control of the personality of the match. The Dinos responded by reducing their errors and forced the Spartans to play longer rallies which favored the Alberta based school. Neither of the first two sets were close with scores of 25-18 & 25-17. The third set, as is usually the case, was the most hotly contested of the evening as the host Spartans hung on to win 25-23. The 4th saw the Dinos respond in the same manner as the 2nd set. Their tough serving and ball control whittled the Spartans down to manageable size taking the set 25-20 but if it weren't for a late charge by the Spartans it would have been even more lop-sided.
Riding the momentum generated by the surge late in the 4th set and harnessing the energy of the nearly capacity Spartan Faithful the Spartans jumped out to a 5-1 lead and an 8-4 switch for the second consecutive night. Just when the Dinos began to make a late move to get back into the match Mikiah Schalk was inserted into the match as a serving sub. For those who have not had the pleasure of seeing Mikiah's serve it is the volleyball equivalent of turning your guitar amp up to 11, its one more than 10. Schalk unleashed three consecutive "Mik-Bombs" that resulted in two Spartan points and a swing for the match which the Dinos blocked prolonging the inevitable. What was beginning to look like a photo-finish turned into a 14-8 lead for the Spartans when Mikiah was done serving. On match point Lucas Van Berkel crushed a middle attack for the match and the Faithful rushed the court as the Spartans earned their second consecutive appearance in the National Final.
Prior to the match the Spartans shared Communion in the team-room as was this year's custom before home games. The team's Spiritual mentor Dave Johns shared some words with the team regarding the ritual of Communion and reiterated that we partake to remember the sacrifice that Christ made for all man-kind. His sacrifice freed man from the bonds of sin and opened the door for a personal relationship with Christ Himself. The sport application of this message was that the we should play with that same sense of freedom. Sport is a gift from God to be enjoyed, why burden ourselves with things that are so insignificant compared to the great sacrifice that Christ made. With this renewed perspective on the match the Spartans took the court and played with utter freedom the whole night. Not allowing tough spells to concern their performance and allowing them to make big play after big play leading to victory. The blending of Spirituality and Sport is why Trinity Western Spartans Athletics is the most unique of experiences and why many of the current players chose to play for TWU. This night was a triumph on the court but the lesson learned by the Spartans will echo in their lives for years to come.
I to believe it was William Wallace who said it best...FREEDOM!!!!
Go Spartans!!!
After defeating arguably the best team in the country in the quarter-final of the National Tournament the Spartans' road did not get any easier with their semi-final opponent, the University of Calgary Dinos. While the rivalry with the Dinos is not as deep programatically as with the Alberta Bears, the rivalry between the current teams was significantly deeper. These team's rivalry started the last weekend of November in 2009 when the Dinos were the #1 ranked team in the country and the Spartans traveled to Calgary with designs on knocking them off that perch. The first night went the home team's way with the Dinos winning a 3-1 decision. The Spartans were very determined to earn a split and the team leaders "asked" the coaching staff to leave the gym during the Saturday practice and led the training session themselves. That evening the Spartans came out firing on all cylinders earning a similar 3-1 win in a very chippy match. The rivalry between the current rosters had begun to take shape.
Stage two of the rivalry saw the two teams meet in the Canada West semi-final in Edmonton. The game was a see-saw affair with the Spartans ultimately winning in 5 grueling sets and earning a birth in the Canada West final and relegating the Dinos to a much tougher draw at the National Tournament. The final meeting of the 2009-10 season was in the National Final where the Dinos exacted some revenge on the Spartans by breaking their hearts in yet another 4 set match. The feelings from that match would sit and resonate with the Spartans all summer long and provide the motivation for their training all season.
The 2010-2011 season saw chapter three in the story unfold as the Dinos, as defending CIS National Champions, ran out to a 10-0 start in conference play. The eventual rematch from the previous year's final came in the Spartan Holiday Classic in early 2011 at the Langley Events Centre. The Spartans won the match convincingly 3-0 and prematurely satisfied their need for redemption. The problem was these two teams would play in conference play just two weeks later. After the Spartans took the first set of the weekend 25-15 in dominant fashion the Dinos reeled off 6 consecutive sets to earn the sweep in Spartan-land. The losses rattled the Spartans as the same team that broke their hearts the previous March had cut them deeply again. The next meeting between these two powers was the 2011 Canada West semi-final and in a mirror image of the previous year the Dinos dropped the first set, took sets 2 & 3, lost 4 and won the 5th and advanced to the Canada West final which they won over the Brandon Bobcats.
The loss returned the favor from the previous year and gave the Spartans the tough draw at the National Tournament setting up the final meeting of the year in the National semi-final. While the Alberta Bears were an opponent that allowed the Spartans to play in their strength areas of physicality and net play, the Dinos were much different. Calgary forced the Spartans to pass and defend as they served primarily float serves and didn't allow the Spartan block to take over the matches. The battle of contrasting styles had gone the Dinos way more than not and the 2011 semi would be a battle of each team trying to impose their style on the match to swing the advantage in their favor.
The first game had the Spartans put up 10 blocks in the set and it was clear that TWU had control of the personality of the match. The Dinos responded by reducing their errors and forced the Spartans to play longer rallies which favored the Alberta based school. Neither of the first two sets were close with scores of 25-18 & 25-17. The third set, as is usually the case, was the most hotly contested of the evening as the host Spartans hung on to win 25-23. The 4th saw the Dinos respond in the same manner as the 2nd set. Their tough serving and ball control whittled the Spartans down to manageable size taking the set 25-20 but if it weren't for a late charge by the Spartans it would have been even more lop-sided.
Riding the momentum generated by the surge late in the 4th set and harnessing the energy of the nearly capacity Spartan Faithful the Spartans jumped out to a 5-1 lead and an 8-4 switch for the second consecutive night. Just when the Dinos began to make a late move to get back into the match Mikiah Schalk was inserted into the match as a serving sub. For those who have not had the pleasure of seeing Mikiah's serve it is the volleyball equivalent of turning your guitar amp up to 11, its one more than 10. Schalk unleashed three consecutive "Mik-Bombs" that resulted in two Spartan points and a swing for the match which the Dinos blocked prolonging the inevitable. What was beginning to look like a photo-finish turned into a 14-8 lead for the Spartans when Mikiah was done serving. On match point Lucas Van Berkel crushed a middle attack for the match and the Faithful rushed the court as the Spartans earned their second consecutive appearance in the National Final.
Prior to the match the Spartans shared Communion in the team-room as was this year's custom before home games. The team's Spiritual mentor Dave Johns shared some words with the team regarding the ritual of Communion and reiterated that we partake to remember the sacrifice that Christ made for all man-kind. His sacrifice freed man from the bonds of sin and opened the door for a personal relationship with Christ Himself. The sport application of this message was that the we should play with that same sense of freedom. Sport is a gift from God to be enjoyed, why burden ourselves with things that are so insignificant compared to the great sacrifice that Christ made. With this renewed perspective on the match the Spartans took the court and played with utter freedom the whole night. Not allowing tough spells to concern their performance and allowing them to make big play after big play leading to victory. The blending of Spirituality and Sport is why Trinity Western Spartans Athletics is the most unique of experiences and why many of the current players chose to play for TWU. This night was a triumph on the court but the lesson learned by the Spartans will echo in their lives for years to come.
I to believe it was William Wallace who said it best...FREEDOM!!!!
Go Spartans!!!
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
CIS National Championship Review: March 4th vs Alberta Bears
March 8t, 2011 - Langley, BC
It has been two days since the Spartans won the 2011 CIS National Championship and the reality of such a feat is still sinking in. For those who had the chance to participate in the weekend, live or online, the excitement in the Langley Events Centre is hard to describe. But here is a most humble attempt.
Heading into the weekend the Spartans knew they would have to play arguably the toughest schedule in National Tournament history. No team in memory has had to go through three Canada West opponents en route to winning a National Title but that is exactly what the Spartans were going to have to do. If it wasn't three Canada West teams it would be the top three ranked team in the country. Hard to determine which would be tougher at the tournament's outset.
The Spartans' first opponent was the mighty Alberta Bears who had medaled in 9 consecutive national tournaments. The Spartans had medaled in their previous 5 appearances (1 gold, 2 silver & 2 bronze). One of these two great programs were going to have their streak snapped in the quarter final stage of the tournament. The message all week to the Spartans was that they would find out on the tournament's opening day if they were good enough to win it all. Should the Spartans be able to get past the Bears then they would have proven to themselves and the rest of the field that they were on a mission. That is exactly what they did and in dramatic fashion.
The focal point for that first match for the Spartans was the concept of "Point Match." This concept encouraged the Spartans to play every point like it was its own match and win or lose move on to the next "point match." Like any game, win or lose, any team has to take the information available and move on, there is no looking back. This same focus was needed in order to overcome such a daunting opponent as the Bears from the University of Alberta. As the match unfolded this "point match" took on a life of its own. With the Spartans ahead 24-23 in the first set the bench players of the Spartans held up one figure signifying one more point match. The TWU squad was able to score that point and take the first set 25-23. The second set saw the Bears respond as all great teams do taking the set 25-23. The third was all Spartans as they ran out to a big lead and closed out with a 24-17 lead. The one figure was held high by the bench of the Spartans but the trend was starting to make its way around the gym as the Spartan Faithful in abundance began to join the team in holding one finger high as the Spartans won the set 25-17. Taking a 2 sets to 1 lead into the 4th set the Spartans were looking to close out the Bears but the tough Alberta squad would no go quietly as they rallied for a 25-21 win leveling out the match and forcing a 5th and deciding set. The match had been a see-saw affair with both teams making big play after big play. The fifth set was going to require the Spartans best set of volleyball to finish the match. To aid the Spartans was their not so secret or quiet weapon, the Spartan Faithful. The LEC was at almost capacity and the almost entirely Spartan friendly crowd was in a fury by the time the fifth set rolled around. Songs, chants and most certainly the Spartan Song were bouncing off the walls willing the Spartans on to victory. Harnessing the energy the Faithful provided the Spartans jumped out to an early 5-1 lead and looked to be in control at the switch leading 8-4. The Spartans did not falter as they took a 14-11 lead and the whole LEC on que raised 1 finger in the air. It was an amazing sight to see 1900 screaming Spartan Faithful with hands raised and a solo digit in the air. The Spartans obliged with a kill from All-Canadian Rudy Verhoeff to win the match 15-11 and secured a return to the semi-final.
The match was thought to be the match of the tournament heading into the game and it did not disappoint. The volleyball on display was epic as both teams recorded 18+ blocks and traded big blows like a legendary prize fight. The match had the feel of a championship match yet there were no medals awarded, only the right to move forward in the quest for the 2011 National Championship. The Spartans next opponent would prove just as tough as the reigning Champions Calgary Dinos waited for the Spartans in the semi.
Go Spartans!!!
It has been two days since the Spartans won the 2011 CIS National Championship and the reality of such a feat is still sinking in. For those who had the chance to participate in the weekend, live or online, the excitement in the Langley Events Centre is hard to describe. But here is a most humble attempt.
Heading into the weekend the Spartans knew they would have to play arguably the toughest schedule in National Tournament history. No team in memory has had to go through three Canada West opponents en route to winning a National Title but that is exactly what the Spartans were going to have to do. If it wasn't three Canada West teams it would be the top three ranked team in the country. Hard to determine which would be tougher at the tournament's outset.
The Spartans' first opponent was the mighty Alberta Bears who had medaled in 9 consecutive national tournaments. The Spartans had medaled in their previous 5 appearances (1 gold, 2 silver & 2 bronze). One of these two great programs were going to have their streak snapped in the quarter final stage of the tournament. The message all week to the Spartans was that they would find out on the tournament's opening day if they were good enough to win it all. Should the Spartans be able to get past the Bears then they would have proven to themselves and the rest of the field that they were on a mission. That is exactly what they did and in dramatic fashion.
The focal point for that first match for the Spartans was the concept of "Point Match." This concept encouraged the Spartans to play every point like it was its own match and win or lose move on to the next "point match." Like any game, win or lose, any team has to take the information available and move on, there is no looking back. This same focus was needed in order to overcome such a daunting opponent as the Bears from the University of Alberta. As the match unfolded this "point match" took on a life of its own. With the Spartans ahead 24-23 in the first set the bench players of the Spartans held up one figure signifying one more point match. The TWU squad was able to score that point and take the first set 25-23. The second set saw the Bears respond as all great teams do taking the set 25-23. The third was all Spartans as they ran out to a big lead and closed out with a 24-17 lead. The one figure was held high by the bench of the Spartans but the trend was starting to make its way around the gym as the Spartan Faithful in abundance began to join the team in holding one finger high as the Spartans won the set 25-17. Taking a 2 sets to 1 lead into the 4th set the Spartans were looking to close out the Bears but the tough Alberta squad would no go quietly as they rallied for a 25-21 win leveling out the match and forcing a 5th and deciding set. The match had been a see-saw affair with both teams making big play after big play. The fifth set was going to require the Spartans best set of volleyball to finish the match. To aid the Spartans was their not so secret or quiet weapon, the Spartan Faithful. The LEC was at almost capacity and the almost entirely Spartan friendly crowd was in a fury by the time the fifth set rolled around. Songs, chants and most certainly the Spartan Song were bouncing off the walls willing the Spartans on to victory. Harnessing the energy the Faithful provided the Spartans jumped out to an early 5-1 lead and looked to be in control at the switch leading 8-4. The Spartans did not falter as they took a 14-11 lead and the whole LEC on que raised 1 finger in the air. It was an amazing sight to see 1900 screaming Spartan Faithful with hands raised and a solo digit in the air. The Spartans obliged with a kill from All-Canadian Rudy Verhoeff to win the match 15-11 and secured a return to the semi-final.
The match was thought to be the match of the tournament heading into the game and it did not disappoint. The volleyball on display was epic as both teams recorded 18+ blocks and traded big blows like a legendary prize fight. The match had the feel of a championship match yet there were no medals awarded, only the right to move forward in the quest for the 2011 National Championship. The Spartans next opponent would prove just as tough as the reigning Champions Calgary Dinos waited for the Spartans in the semi.
Go Spartans!!!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
CIS National Championship Preview 2011
March 1st, 2011 - Langley, BC
This weekend marks the final weekend of the 2010-2011 CIS Volleyball season for the Spartans as they get set to host the CIS National Championship Tournament. If you didn't already know that then you: 1) are not a volleyball fan, 2) are not a Spartan fan or 3) don't know how you got to this blog.
Much has been made of the first round match up the Spartans have in the University of Alberta Bears. The #2 ranked team in the CIS had a tough weekend last weekend at the Canada West Final 4 losing to Brandon in the semi final and the Spartans in the Bronze medal match. Their reward for such a weekend was a fall to the #5 seed in the national tournament. Never mind the Bears won the Canada West regular season going 17-1 in the process playing 6 matches without two key starters. Never mind the fact they were "robbed" in the semi final against Brandon with a huge missed touch call on match point thus prolonging the match that would see the Bobcats win the 5th set. All of those points were overlooked and the Bears were rewarded for their season success with a date with the Spartans in the hostile Langley Events Centre on opening day of the tournament.
The Spartans on the other hand are glad to have the match up as it will provide an early tournament answer to the question every team is anxious to know: are we good enough to win this year? Often times it takes 2 or 3 matches to have that question answered at the National tournament. For the Spartans that question will be answered sometime between 8:00 and 8:30pm Friday, March 4th at the LEC. Win and the Spartans will have proven to themselves that they have enough in the tank to potentially win the tournament. Lose and it is not meant to be this season.
To get a better handle on what type of epic match we are in store for this weekend it is worth while to look at the history between these two programs in recent years. Alberta and TWU are the two most successful volleyball programs in the last 7 years. Alberta has 7 CIS medals to their credit (3 Gold, 3 Silver & 1 Bronze) while TWU has 5 (1 Gold, 2 Silver & 2 Bronze). No other CIS program has more than 2 (Winnipeg & Manitoba) in that same time period. So with these two juggernauts set to do battle in a quarter final one program will see their medal total remain unchanged for certain.
Not only have these two programs proven to be successful at the National tournament they have met frequently during the past 7 championships. The 2005 & 2006 finals were fought between these two teams with each winning the Championship once. In 2007 they met in the semifinal with Alberta coming out victorious only to lose to Winnipeg in the final while the Spartans beat UBC 3-0 in the bronze medal game. The Bears and Spartans have not met in a Championship tournament match since that day. While both have added to their medal total since this Friday marks the next chapter in the epic struggle for CIS volleyball superiority.
With other programs on the rise also appearing in the tournament this is by no means a two horse race. Brandon makes its second appearance in three years on the strength of perennial points leader Paul Sanderson's arm. Two seasons ago the Bobcats earned a bronze medal in Edmonton by defeating the McMaster Marauders earning their school's first national volleyball medal. Calgary has seen a resurgence as of late as they make their second consecutive Nationals appearance. Last year's Champion heads into this year's tournament as the #1 seed and tournament favourite. After needing 10 sets to win their first Canada West Title since 1994 the Dinos begin their title defense Friday night at 8pm against the 8th seed Sherbrooke Vert et Or.
The other major contender this weekend is the undefeated and #1 ranked team in the Nation, Universite de Laval Rouge et Or. While ranked #1 in the coach's poll Laval plays as the 2nd seed in this year's tournament. A quick look at the draw and it is clear that the 2nd seed is much more advantageous than the 1 seed seeing how 3 of the top 4 ranked teams in the country are on the top seed half of the draw. Laval is the only non-Canada West team to have won the CIS National Championship in a long, long, long time. Not since 1974 has another team other than Laval outside the Canada West Conference won a National Title (Sherbrooke). Last year's #1 seed looks to stop the western dominance in university volleyball this weekend.
Rounding out the National Tournament field are the University of New Bruinswick Varsity Reds and the McMaster Marauders. UNB knocked off Dalhousie ending a 24 year conference winning streak and a 30+ year Nationals appearance streak for the Halifax school. It is the Reds' second tournament appearance in 3 years with a 7th place finish in 2009. McMaster is a much more seasoned team at this tournament with 5 appearances in 6 years. While they were not expected to make it to this year's tournament due to a very young team they caught fire at the right time and have rattled off 10 consecutive wins en route to the OUA championships knocking off league Champ Western in the Final and preseason OUA favourite Queen's in the semi.
With many of the leagues best teams on display this coming weekend there should be some great matches. With the many upsets already to have happened thus far in the post season it is not too much of a stretch to think that this weekend will have some curves in the road to the Tantramar.
The tournament gets going on March 4th at 1pm as #2 Laval takes on #7 UNB. The rest of the schedule is:
3pm #3 Brandon vs #6 McMaster
6pm #4 Trinity Western University Spartans vs #5 Alberta
8pm #1 Calgary vs #8 Sherbrooke
As is usually the case the 4th & 5th seed match is usually the best of the first day and as articulated earlier this year is most certainly that case. In what could be the match of the tournament the Spartans will use the mighty force of the Spartan Faithful to help propel them to a victory over the perennial contenders Alberta Bears.
First serve 6pm, Friday, March 4th, 2011 @ the Langley Events Centre.
Go Spartans!!!
This weekend marks the final weekend of the 2010-2011 CIS Volleyball season for the Spartans as they get set to host the CIS National Championship Tournament. If you didn't already know that then you: 1) are not a volleyball fan, 2) are not a Spartan fan or 3) don't know how you got to this blog.
Much has been made of the first round match up the Spartans have in the University of Alberta Bears. The #2 ranked team in the CIS had a tough weekend last weekend at the Canada West Final 4 losing to Brandon in the semi final and the Spartans in the Bronze medal match. Their reward for such a weekend was a fall to the #5 seed in the national tournament. Never mind the Bears won the Canada West regular season going 17-1 in the process playing 6 matches without two key starters. Never mind the fact they were "robbed" in the semi final against Brandon with a huge missed touch call on match point thus prolonging the match that would see the Bobcats win the 5th set. All of those points were overlooked and the Bears were rewarded for their season success with a date with the Spartans in the hostile Langley Events Centre on opening day of the tournament.
The Spartans on the other hand are glad to have the match up as it will provide an early tournament answer to the question every team is anxious to know: are we good enough to win this year? Often times it takes 2 or 3 matches to have that question answered at the National tournament. For the Spartans that question will be answered sometime between 8:00 and 8:30pm Friday, March 4th at the LEC. Win and the Spartans will have proven to themselves that they have enough in the tank to potentially win the tournament. Lose and it is not meant to be this season.
To get a better handle on what type of epic match we are in store for this weekend it is worth while to look at the history between these two programs in recent years. Alberta and TWU are the two most successful volleyball programs in the last 7 years. Alberta has 7 CIS medals to their credit (3 Gold, 3 Silver & 1 Bronze) while TWU has 5 (1 Gold, 2 Silver & 2 Bronze). No other CIS program has more than 2 (Winnipeg & Manitoba) in that same time period. So with these two juggernauts set to do battle in a quarter final one program will see their medal total remain unchanged for certain.
Not only have these two programs proven to be successful at the National tournament they have met frequently during the past 7 championships. The 2005 & 2006 finals were fought between these two teams with each winning the Championship once. In 2007 they met in the semifinal with Alberta coming out victorious only to lose to Winnipeg in the final while the Spartans beat UBC 3-0 in the bronze medal game. The Bears and Spartans have not met in a Championship tournament match since that day. While both have added to their medal total since this Friday marks the next chapter in the epic struggle for CIS volleyball superiority.
With other programs on the rise also appearing in the tournament this is by no means a two horse race. Brandon makes its second appearance in three years on the strength of perennial points leader Paul Sanderson's arm. Two seasons ago the Bobcats earned a bronze medal in Edmonton by defeating the McMaster Marauders earning their school's first national volleyball medal. Calgary has seen a resurgence as of late as they make their second consecutive Nationals appearance. Last year's Champion heads into this year's tournament as the #1 seed and tournament favourite. After needing 10 sets to win their first Canada West Title since 1994 the Dinos begin their title defense Friday night at 8pm against the 8th seed Sherbrooke Vert et Or.
The other major contender this weekend is the undefeated and #1 ranked team in the Nation, Universite de Laval Rouge et Or. While ranked #1 in the coach's poll Laval plays as the 2nd seed in this year's tournament. A quick look at the draw and it is clear that the 2nd seed is much more advantageous than the 1 seed seeing how 3 of the top 4 ranked teams in the country are on the top seed half of the draw. Laval is the only non-Canada West team to have won the CIS National Championship in a long, long, long time. Not since 1974 has another team other than Laval outside the Canada West Conference won a National Title (Sherbrooke). Last year's #1 seed looks to stop the western dominance in university volleyball this weekend.
Rounding out the National Tournament field are the University of New Bruinswick Varsity Reds and the McMaster Marauders. UNB knocked off Dalhousie ending a 24 year conference winning streak and a 30+ year Nationals appearance streak for the Halifax school. It is the Reds' second tournament appearance in 3 years with a 7th place finish in 2009. McMaster is a much more seasoned team at this tournament with 5 appearances in 6 years. While they were not expected to make it to this year's tournament due to a very young team they caught fire at the right time and have rattled off 10 consecutive wins en route to the OUA championships knocking off league Champ Western in the Final and preseason OUA favourite Queen's in the semi.
With many of the leagues best teams on display this coming weekend there should be some great matches. With the many upsets already to have happened thus far in the post season it is not too much of a stretch to think that this weekend will have some curves in the road to the Tantramar.
The tournament gets going on March 4th at 1pm as #2 Laval takes on #7 UNB. The rest of the schedule is:
3pm #3 Brandon vs #6 McMaster
6pm #4 Trinity Western University Spartans vs #5 Alberta
8pm #1 Calgary vs #8 Sherbrooke
As is usually the case the 4th & 5th seed match is usually the best of the first day and as articulated earlier this year is most certainly that case. In what could be the match of the tournament the Spartans will use the mighty force of the Spartan Faithful to help propel them to a victory over the perennial contenders Alberta Bears.
First serve 6pm, Friday, March 4th, 2011 @ the Langley Events Centre.
Go Spartans!!!
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