U Sports men's volleyball championship

The U Sports men's volleyball championship is an annual tournament that features the top eight men's volleyball teams from among competing Canadian universities in U Sports. 11 games are played over a period of three days culminating in a national championship being awarded.[1] The champion is awarded the Tantramar Trophy, named after the Tantramar Marshes in New Brunswick, which was donated in 1967 by Mount Allison University.[2] The 2019 champions are the Trinity Western Spartans, who have won six championships in program history, including three in the last four years.[3] The Manitoba Bisons and Winnipeg Wesmen have won the most championships with both schools having won ten times.[2] The 2020 and 2021 championship tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5]

U Sports men's volleyball championship
SportIndoor volleyball
LeagueU Sports
First played1967
Most recently played2019
Current championsTrinity Western Spartans
Current runners-upBrandon Bobcats
Most titlesManitoba Bisons (10)
Winnipeg Wesmen (10)

History

The first championship tournament was held in Calgary, Alberta and featured the UBC Thunderbirds defeating the Mount Allison Mounties 3-0 and the Sherbrooke Vert et Or 3-0 en route to being the first CIAU men's volleyball champions.[2][6] While early records are not readily available, the championship has been played as a round-robin tournament at least since 1980.[7] In 1983, six teams played in two pools and then, based on the results, advanced to single-elimination games to determine a winner.[7] In 1985, the current format of full single-elimination games was adopted with eight team competing in the tournament.[7]

Format

The championship currently consists of an eight-team tournament, with champions from each of the three conferences, one host (from Canada West in 2020 and 2021), an additional Canada West team, two additional OUA teams, and one additional team from the RSEQ.[1] While the berths for the conference champions and host remain consistent year-to-year, the other four invitees can change based on the host's conference and the competitive landscape in U Sports. The championship takes place over three days and features 11 games, with teams seeded 1–8. Teams are ranked by a committee as well as by the ELO ranking used to determine weekly Top 10 rankings nationally.[1] Conference champions can be ranked no lower than 6th place. The team ranked 1st plays the 8th ranked team, 2nd plays 7th, 3rd plays 6th, and 4th plays 5th in the quarter-finals. To ensure common rest times, teams are not re-seeded after the first round, so the winner of 1v8 plays the winner of 4v5 and the winner of 2v7 plays the winner of 3v6.[1] There is also a consolation bracket to determine the third-place winner (bronze medalist) and fifth-place winner. The gold medal game is the last game played in the tournament.[1]

Results

Round Robin Format (1967–1982)
Year Host
(City)		 Championship final Teams
Champions Score Runners-up
1967 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)		 UBC Thunderbirds 3–0 Sherbrooke Vert et Or 4
1968 Guelph
(Guelph, ON)		 Ottawa Gee-Gees N/A N/A N/A
1969 Mount Allison
(Sackville, NB)		 Winnipeg Wesmen N/A N/A N/A
1970 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)		 Montreal Carabins N/A N/A N/A
1971 Laurentian
(Sudbury, ON)		 Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Western Ontario Mustangs N/A
1972 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Montreal Carabins N/A
1973 Laurentian
(Sudbury, ON)		 Winnipeg Wesmen N/A Laurentian Voyageurs N/A
1974 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)		 Winnipeg Wesmen N/A York Yeomen N/A
1975 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Sherbrooke Vert et Or N/A N/A N/A
1976 Manitoba/Winnipeg
(Winnipeg, MB)		 UBC Thunderbirds 3–1 Sherbrooke Vert et Or 6
1977 Waterloo
(Waterloo, ON)		 Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 UBC Thunderbirds 6
1978 Moncton
(Moncton, NB)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–0 Calgary Dinosaurs N/A
1979 McMaster
(Hamilton, ON)		 Saskatchewan Huskies 3–2 Manitoba Bisons N/A
1980 Saskatchewan
(Saskatoon, SK)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Saskatchewan Huskies 6
1981 Victoria
(Victoria, BC)		 Alberta Golden Bears 3–2 Manitoba Bisons 6
1982 Dalhousie
(Halifax, NS)		 Calgary Dinosaurs 3–1 Manitoba Bisons 6

[8][9]

Transition Format (1983–1984)
Year Host
(City)		 Gold medal match Bronze medal match Teams
Gold medalists Score Silver medalists Bronze medalists Score 4th place
1983 British Columbia
(Vancouver, BC)		 UBC Thunderbirds 3–1 Manitoba Bisons Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 Victoria Vikings 6
1984 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–0 UBC Thunderbirds Waterloo Warriors 3–0 Dalhousie Tigers 6

Single Elimination Format (1985–present)
Year Host
(City)		 Gold medal match Bronze medal match Teams
Gold medalists Score Silver medalists Bronze medalists Score 4th place
1985 York
(North York, ON)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–0 Saskatchewan Huskies Toronto Varsity Blues 3–0 Dalhousie Tigers 8
1986 Moncton
(Moncton, NB)		 Winnipeg Wesmen 3–2 Manitoba Bisons Saskatchewan Huskies 3–1 UBC Thunderbirds 8
1987 Winnipeg
(Winnipeg, MB)		 Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Saskatchewan Huskies Manitoba Bisons 3–2 Calgary Dinosaurs 8
1988 Guelph
(Guelph, ON)		 Saskatchewan Huskies 3–1 Manitoba Bisons Calgary Dinosaurs 3–0 Dalhousie Tigers 8
1989 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)		 Calgary Dinosaurs 3–0 Manitoba Bisons York Yeomen 3–0 Waterloo Warriors 8
1990 Winnipeg
(Winnipeg, MB)		 Laval Rouge et Or 3–0 Manitoba Bisons Waterloo Warriors 3–0 Saskatchewan Huskies 8
1991 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–0 Toronto Varsity Blues Waterloo Warriors 3–2 Sherbrooke Vert et Or 8
1992 Winnipeg
(Winnipeg, MB)		 Laval Rouge et Or 3–0 Calgary Dinosaurs Montreal Carabins 3–1 Winnipeg Wesmen 8
1993 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)		 Calgary Dinosaurs 3–0 Montreal Carabins Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Manitoba Bisons 8
1994 Dalhousie
(Halifax, NS)		 Laval Rouge et Or 3–0 Manitoba Bisons Dalhousie Tigers 3–2 Alberta Golden Bears 8
1995 Laurentian
(Sudbury, ON)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–2 Laval Rouge et Or Dalhousie Tigers 3–2 Alberta Golden Bears 8
1996 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Alberta Golden Bears Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 Winnipeg Wesmen 8
1997 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)		 Alberta Golden Bears 3–0 Dalhousie Tigers Winnipeg Wesmen 3–1 Calgary Dinosaurs 8
1998 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)		 Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Saskatchewan Huskies Alberta Golden Bears 3–1 Toronto Varsity Blues 8
1999 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Saskatchewan Huskies 3–0 Laval Rouge et Or Alberta Golden Bears 3–2 Calgary Dinos 8
2000 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Saskatchewan Huskies Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Dalhousie Tigers 8
2001 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Laval Rouge et Or Calgary Dinos 3–0 Saskatchewan Huskies 8
2002 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)		 Alberta Golden Bears 3–2 Winnipeg Wesmen Manitoba Bisons 3–0 Laval Rouge et Or 8
2003 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)		 Manitoba Bisons 3–0 Alberta Golden Bears Saskatchewan Huskies 3–2 Calgary Dinos 8
2004 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Saskatchewan Huskies 3–2 Alberta Golden Bears Trinity Western Spartans 3–1 Manitoba Bisons 8
2005 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Alberta Golden Bears 3–2 Trinity Western Spartans Manitoba Bisons 3–2 Saskatchewan Huskies 8
2006 McMaster
(Hamilton, ON)		 Trinity Western Spartans 3–0 Alberta Golden Bears Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Dalhousie Tigers 8
2007 McMaster
(Hamilton, ON)		 Winnipeg Wesmen 3–2 Alberta Golden Bears Trinity Western Spartans 3–0
 UBC Thunderbirds 8
2008 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Alberta Golden Bears 3–1 Winnipeg Wesmen TRU WolfPack 3–2 Dalhousie Tigers 8
2009 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)		 Alberta Golden Bears 3–0 Laval Rouge et Or Brandon Bobcats 3–1 McMaster Marauders 8
2010
Details		 Thompson Rivers
(Kamloops, BC)		 Calgary Dinos 3–1 Trinity Western Spartans Alberta Golden Bears 3–0 Laval Rouge et Or 8
2011
Details		 Trinity Western
(Langley, BC)		 Trinity Western Spartans 3–0 Brandon Bobcats Calgary Dinos 3–2 Laval Rouge et Or 8
2012
Details		 Queen's
(Kingston, ON		 Trinity Western Spartans 3–1 Laval Rouge et Or Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Queen's Gaels 8
2013
Details		 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 McMaster Marauders Brandon Bobcats 3–1 Western Mustangs 8
2014
Details		 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)		 Alberta Golden Bears 3–0 Western Mustangs McMaster Marauders 3–0 Laval Rouge et Or 8
2015
Details		 Saskatchewan
(Saskatoon, SK)		 Alberta Golden Bears 3–0 Trinity Western Spartans McMaster Marauders 3–0 Dalhousie Tigers 8
2016
Details		 McMaster
(Hamilton, ON)		 Trinity Western Spartans 3–1 McMaster Marauders Alberta Golden Bears 3–0 Saskatchewan Huskies 8
2017
Details		 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)		 Trinity Western Spartans 3–1 Alberta Golden Bears McMaster Marauders 3–0 UBC Thunderbirds 8
2018
Details		 McMaster
(Hamilton, ON)		 UBC Thunderbirds 3–0 Trinity Western Spartans McMaster Marauders 3–0 Alberta Golden Bears 8
2019
Details		 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)		 Trinity Western Spartans 3–0 Brandon Bobcats Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 Alberta Golden Bears 8
2020 Manitoba
(Winnipeg, MB)		 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[4] Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[4] 8
2021 Brandon
(Brandon, MB)		 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[5] Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[5] 8

[2][7][10]

Top 3 finishes table

Due to information limitations, the following table includes all known first, second, and third-place finishes, as indicated above. Prior to 1983, there were no third-place finishes, and the second-place finish was the loser of the championship game. While the Dalhousie Tigers now play in the RSEQ, they had won their medals while playing in the AUS conference, which no longer fields men's volleyball teams.[11]

Team Conference 1st 2nd 3rd Last
Manitoba Bisons Canada West 10952003
Winnipeg Wesmen Canada West 10232007
Alberta Golden Bears Canada West 8642015
Trinity Western Spartans Canada West 6422019
Laval Rouge et Or RSEQ 4532013
Saskatchewan Huskies Canada West 4522004
Calgary Dinos Canada West 4232010
UBC Thunderbirds Canada West 4202018
Montreal Carabins RSEQ 1211970
Sherbrooke Vert et Or RSEQ 1201975
Ottawa Gee-Gees RSEQ 1001968
McMaster Marauders OUA 024None
Brandon Bobcats Canada West 022None
Western Mustangs OUA 020None
Dalhousie Tigers AUS 012None
York Yeomen OUA 011None
Toronto Varsity Blues OUA 011None
Waterloo Warriors OUA 003None
Laurentian Voyageurs OUA 001None
TRU WolfPack Canada West 001None

References
  1. "Playing Regulations: Men's Volleyball" (PDF). U Sports. June 25, 2019.
  2. "U Sports Volleyball Championship History". usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  3. "Spartans clinch yet another national title". U Sports. March 17, 2019.
  4. "U Sports men's volleyball championship cancelled over coronavirus concerns". Global News. March 13, 2020.
  5. "U Sports unable to offer national championships in winter 2021". usports.ca. U Sports. October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  6. "UBC Sports Hall of Fame – 1966-1967 UBC Men's Volleyball Team". UBC Thunderbirds. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  7. "CIS Championship Results" (PDF). usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  8. "1978 & 1980 University of Manitoba Bisons". Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  9. "Winnipeg Wesmen 1970-74 (MVB Team)". Canada West Hall of Fame. October 17, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  10. "Saskatchewan Huskies, Men's Volleyball Playoff History" (PDF). Saskatchewan Huskies. August 6, 2018.
  11. "Men's volleyball Tigers set for RSEQ housewarming party". The Chronicle Herald. November 1, 2018.
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