U Sports women's volleyball championship
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 U Sports Women's Volleyball Championship
SportIndoor volleyball
Founded1971 (1971)
Inaugural season1971
Organising bodyU Sports
No. of teams8
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)
UBC Thunderbirds (13th title)
Most titlesUBC Thunderbirds (13)
Official websiteusports.ca/en/sports/volleyball/f

The U Sports Women's Volleyball Championship is a Canadian university volleyball tournament conducted by U Sports, and determines the women's national champion. The tournament involves the champions from each of Canada's four regional sports conferences.[1] The championship trophy, first awarded in 1977, features a two-wheeled oxcart, symbolizing the pioneer era on the Red River in Manitoba.[2] The 2023 champions are the UBC Thunderbirds who have also won the most championships with a total of 13, including six in a row from 2008 to 2013.[2][3]

History

The championship trophy awarded to the gold medalists of the tournament.

While intercollegiate volleyball had been played in Canada since 1947, championships had been played for conference titles only.[4] In 1969, the Canadian Women's Interuniversity Athletic Union (CWIAU) was formed (a precursor to today's U Sports organization) to provide a regulatory body for national competition.[4] For the 1969–1970 season, the Calgary Dinos were named the first unofficial champions.[2] The first official champions were the Manitoba Bisonettes, who were crowned following the 1970–1971 season after they defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues in four sets.[2][5] While full historical championship results are not readily available, the championship was initially a round-robin tournament where the teams with the best records would then play for the championship. This was changed for the 1983 championship when the tournament changed to single-elimination.[6] The 2020 and 2021 championship tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8]

Format

The championship currently consists of an eight-team tournament, with champions from each of the four conferences, one host, an additional OUA team, and two additional Canada West teams.[1] While the berths for the conference champions and host remain consistent year-to-year, the other three 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 (1971–1982)

Year Host
(City)
Championship final Teams
Champions Score Runners-up
1971 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)
Manitoba Bisonettes 3–1 Toronto Varsity Blues 4
1972 Laurentian
(Sudbury, ON)
Western Ontario Mustangs 3–1 Dalhousie Tigers N/A
1973 Acadia
(Wolfville, NS)
UBC Thunderettes 3–1 Western Ontario Mustangs N/A
1974 British Columbia
(Vancouver, BC)
UBC Thunderettes 3–2 Western Ontario Mustangs 5
1975 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)
Western Ontario Mustangs 3–0 Saskatchewan Huskiettes N/A
1976 Manitoba/Winnipeg
(Winnipeg, MB)
Western Ontario Mustangs 3–1 UBC Thunderettes 5
1977 Waterloo
(Waterloo, ON)
UBC Thunderettes 3–0 Western Ontario Mustangs 5
1978 Moncton
(Moncton, NB)
UBC Thunderettes 3–1 Western Ontario Mustangs 6
1979 McMaster
(Hamilton, ON)
Saskatchewan Huskiettes 3–1 York Yeowomen N/A
1980 Saskatchewan
(Saskatoon, SK)
Saskatchewan Huskiettes 3–1 Ottawa Gee-Gees 6
1981 Victoria
(Victoria, BC)
Saskatchewan Huskiettes 3–1 Manitoba Bisons 6
1982 Dalhousie
(Halifax, NS)
Dalhousie Tigers 3–2 Calgary Dinosaurs 6

[2][6][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Single Elimination Format (1983–present)

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)
Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Calgary Dinosaurs UBC Thunderbirds 3–2 Laval Rouge et Or 8
1984 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)
Winnipeg Wesmen 3–2 Dalhousie Tigers York Yeowomen 3–2 Laval Rouge et Or 8
1985 York
(North York, ON)
Winnipeg Wesmen 3–1 Calgary Dinosaurs York Yeowomen 3–2 Saskatchewan Huskiettes 8
1986 Moncton
(Moncton, NB)
Winnipeg Wesmen 3–2 Manitoba Bisons Sherbrooke Vert et Or 3–0 Laval Rouge et Or 8
1987 Winnipeg
(Winnipeg, MB)
Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Manitoba Bisons Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 Victoria Vikettes 8
1988 Sherbrooke
(Sherbrooke, QC)
Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Sherbrooke Vert et Or Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 Calgary Dinosaurs 8
1989 Saskatchewan
(Saskatoon, SK)
Calgary Dinosaurs 3–0 Victoria Vikettes Laval Rouge et Or 3–2 Winnipeg Wesmen 8
1990 Windsor
(Windsor, ON)
Manitoba Bisons 3–2 Victoria Vikettes York Yeowomen 3–2 Regina Cougars 8
1991 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)
Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Saskatchewan Huskies York Yeowomen 3–2 Winnipeg Wesmen 8
1992 York
(North York, ON)
Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Winnipeg Wesmen Calgary Dinosaurs 3–1 York Yeowomen 8
1993 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)
Winnipeg Wesmen 3–0 Alberta Pandas Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Calgary Dinosaurs 8
1994 Winnipeg
(Winnipeg, MB)
Calgary Dinosaurs 3–0 Winnipeg Wesmen Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Montreal Carabins 8
1995 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)
Alberta Pandas 3–1 Laval Rouge et Or Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Winnipeg Wesmen 8
1996 Toronto
(Toronto, ON)
Alberta Pandas 3–1 Laval Rouge et Or UBC Thunderbirds 3–1 Winnipeg Wesmen 8
1997 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)
Alberta Pandas 3–2 UBC Thunderbirds Laval Rouge et Or 3–0 Manitoba Bisons 8
1998 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)
Alberta Pandas 3–1 Manitoba Bisons Laval Rouge et Or 3–2 UBC Thunderbirds 8
1999 Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)
Alberta Pandas 3–1 UBC Thunderbirds Manitoba Bisons 3–0 Laval Rouge et Or 8
2000 Winnipeg
(Winnipeg, MB)
Alberta Pandas 3–2 Manitoba Bisons UBC Thunderbirds 3–1 Montreal Carabins 8
2001 Manitoba
(Winnipeg, MB)
Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Sherbrooke Vert et Or Laval Rouge et Or 3–0 Toronto Varsity Blues 8
2002 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)
Manitoba Bisons 3–1 Calgary Dinos UBC Thunderbirds 3–0 Sherbrooke Vert et Or 8
2003 Laval
(Quebec City, QC)
Sherbrooke Vert et Or 3–1 Winnipeg Wesmen Alberta Pandas 3–1 Calgary Dinos 8
2004 Saskatchewan
(Saskatoon, SK)
Calgary Dinos 3–1 Alberta Pandas Laval Rouge et Or 3–0 UBC Thunderbirds 8
2005 Saskatchewan
(Saskatoon, SK)
Sherbrooke Vert et Or 3–0 UBC Thunderbirds Calgary Dinos 3–1 Alberta Pandas 8
2006 Calgary
(Calgary, AB)
Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 UBC Thunderbirds Calgary Dinos 3–2 Montreal Carabins 8
2007
Details
Calgary
(Calgary, AB)
Alberta Pandas 3–1 Laval Rouge et Or Calgary Dinos 3–0 Trinity Western Spartans 8
2008
Details
New Brunswick
(Fredericton, NB)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–2 Montreal Carabins Calgary Dinos 3–2 Alberta Pandas 8
2009
Details
New Brunswick
(Fredericton, NB)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–2 Calgary Dinos Montreal Carabins 3–2 Laval Rouge et Or 8
2010
Details
Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–1 Manitoba Bisons Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 Alberta Pandas 8
2011
Details
Laval
(Quebec City, QC)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–0 Laval Rouge et Or Trinity Western Spartans 3–1 Alberta Pandas 8
2012
Details
McMaster
(Hamilton, ON)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–2 Alberta Pandas McGill Martlets 3–1 Montreal Carabins 8
2013
Details
Sherbrooke
(Sherbrooke, QC)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–0 Alberta Pandas Trinity Western Spartans 3–0 Ottawa Gee-Gees 8
2014
Details
Regina
(Regina, SK)
Manitoba Bisons 3–0 UBC Thunderbirds Laval Rouge et Or 3–1 Dalhousie Tigers 8
2015
Details
Toronto
(Toronto, ON)
Trinity Western Spartans 3–2 Alberta Pandas Montreal Carabins 3–2 Toronto Varsity Blues 8
2016
Details
Brandon
(Brandon, MB)
Toronto Varsity Blues 3–0 Trinity Western Spartans UBC Okanagan Heat 3–0 UBC Thunderbirds 8
2017
Details
Ryerson
(Toronto, ON)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–1 Alberta Pandas Trinity Western Spartans 3–2 Montreal Carabins 8
2018
Details
Laval
(Quebec City, QC)
Ryerson Rams 3–1 Alberta Pandas UBC Thunderbirds 3–1 Calgary Dinos 8
2019
Details
Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–2 Ryerson Rams Alberta Pandas 3–2 Dalhousie Tigers 8
2020
Details
Calgary
(Calgary, AB)
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7] Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7] 8
2021
Details
British Columbia
(Vancouver, BC)
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[8] Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[8] 8
2022
Details
Calgary
(Calgary, AB)
Trinity Western Spartans 3–1 Mount Royal Cougars Alberta Pandas 3–0 McGill Martlets 8
2023
Details
British Columbia[18]
(Vancouver, BC)
UBC Thunderbirds 3–2 Trinity Western Spartans Dalhousie Tigers 3–2 Manitoba Bisons 8
2024
Details
McMaster[18]
(Hamilton, ON)
8
2025
Details
Manitoba[18]
(Winnipeg, MB)
8

[2][6]

Results by schools

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.

Team Conference 1st 2nd 3rd Last
UBC Thunderbirds Canada West 13 6 5 2023
Alberta Pandas Canada West 7 7 3 2007
Manitoba Bisons Canada West 7 6 4 2014
Winnipeg Wesmen Canada West 7 3 0 1993
Calgary Dinos Canada West 3 5 5 2004
Western Ontario Mustangs OUA 3 4 0 1976
Saskatchewan Huskies Canada West 3 2 0 1981
Sherbrooke Vert et Or RSEQ 2 2 1 2005
Trinity Western Spartans Canada West 2 2 3 2022
Laval Rouge et Or RSEQ 1 4 9 2006
Dalhousie Tigers AUS 1 2 1 1982
Toronto Varsity Blues OUA 1 1 0 2016
Ryerson Rams OUA 1 1 0 2018
Victoria Vikes/Vikettes Canada West 0 2 0 None
York Lions/Yeowomen OUA 0 1 4 None
Montreal Carabins RSEQ 0 1 2 None
Ottawa Gee-Gees RSEQ 0 1 0 None
Mount Royal Cougars OUA 0 1 0 None
McGill Martlets RSEQ 0 0 1 None
UBC Okanagan Heat Canada West 0 0 1 None

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Playing Regulations: Women's Volleyball" (PDF). U Sports. June 25, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "U Sports Volleyball Championship History". usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  3. "2022 U Sports Women's Volleyball Championship: Veteran trio leads Trinity Western to national glory". usports.ca. U Sports. March 27, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Varsity Blues Women's Volleyball History". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  5. Martin, Melissa (January 16, 2015). "The first spike: 'Bisonettes' claimed first women's national volleyball championship". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "CIS Championship Results" (PDF). usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 "Women's volleyball nationals cancelled at U of C". Calgary Sun. March 13, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "U Sports unable to offer national championships in winter 2021". usports.ca. U Sports. October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. "Girls finish third". The Chevron. March 12, 1971. p. 18. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  10. "1979 University of Saskatchewan Huskiettes Women's Volleyball Team". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  11. "WEEK 11 – Huskie Athletics Top 100 Moments". independentsportsnews.com. November 29, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  12. "Right here in our own backyard". The Ubyssey. March 6, 1973. p. 18. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  13. "Women athletes victorious" (PDF). UBC Reports. March 15, 1973. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  14. "Marilyn Walter". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  15. "Marilyn Walter". Mustang Volley. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  16. "Volleyball champs". torontopubliclibrary.ca. The Globe and Mail (1936-2017). March 6, 1972. p. S8.
  17. "Sports Roundup". torontopubliclibrary.ca. The Globe and Mail (1936-2017). March 3, 1975. p. S3.
  18. 1 2 3 "Calendar – U Sports HQ". U Sports. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
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