For the second straight season and the fourth time in five years, the reigning six-time national champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds are pre-tournament favourites heading into the CIS women's volleyball championship, presented by SGI CANADA.
The seeding was announced Sunday evening for the 2014 tourney, which runs from Friday to next Sunday at the University of Regina. All 11 matches from the eight-team competition will be webcast live on www.CIS-SIC.tv, including the gold-medal final on March 2 at 6 p.m. Central Time.
Rounding out the seeding behind Canada West champ UBC are the No. 2 Manitoba Bisons (Canada West finalists), No. 3 Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West bronze medallists), No. 4 Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ champions), No. 5 McMaster Marauders (OUA champs), No. 6 Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champs), No. 7 Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA finalists) and No. 8 Regina Cougars (hosts).
Friday's quarter-finals will see Trinity Western and Dalhousie battle in the 1 p.m. opener, followed by Manitoba vs. Ottawa at 3 p.m., UBC vs. host Regina at 6 p.m., and Laval vs. McMaster at 8 p.m.
The Thunderbirds, who secured their No. 1 status with a straight-set win over Manitoba in Saturday's Canada West final, hope to enter the record books next weekend as the first women's volleyball program to claim seven straight national titles. Should they accomplish the feat, they would equal the longest streak in CIS history in a team sport, matching Victoria's seven consecutive banners in men's basketball from 1980 to 1986.
UBC already holds the all-time mark of 10 CIS women's volleyball titles overall, three more than Winnipeg (1983-1988) and Alberta (1995-2000), the other teams to win six in a row.
In addition to the T-Birds, Manitoba (6), Laval (1) and Dalhousie (1) hope to add to their trophy collection next Sunday, while Trinity Western, McMaster, Ottawa and Regina are still looking for their first crown.
NOTE: In individual sports, the longest CIS championship streaks in history are held by UBC in women's swimming (11), UBC in men's swimming (10), Brock in men's wrestling (10), Guelph in women's cross country (9 and counting) and Guelph in men's cross country (8 and counting)... A complete 2014 championship preview will follow on Tuesday... The CIS all-Canadians and major award winners will be announced Thursday evening.
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wvball/index
SEEDING
1. UBC Thunderbirds (CWUAA champions: 18-4 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)
2. Manitoba Bisons (CWUAA finalists: 14-8 regular season / 3-1 playoffs)
3. Trinity Western Spartans (CWUAA bronze medallists: 17-5 regular season / 3-1 playoffs)
4. Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ champions: 13-6 regular season / 4-2 playoffs)
5. McMaster Marauders (OUA champions: 13-6 regular season / 3-0 playoffs)
6. Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champions: 12-4 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)
7. Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA finalists: 14-5 regular season / 2-1 playoffs)
8. Regina Cougars (Hosts: 12-10 regular season / 0-2 playoffs)
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 27
18:45 All-Canadian Awards Reception (Casino Regina Show Lounge)
Friday, February 28
13:00 Quarter-final #1: No. 3 Trinity Western vs. No. 6 Dalhousie (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: No. 2 Manitoba vs. No. 7 Ottawa (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: No. 1 UBC vs. No. 8 Regina (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 4 Laval vs. No. 5 McMaster (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
Saturday, March 1
13:00 Consolation #1: Loser quarter-final #1 vs. Loser quarter-final #2 (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Consolation #2: Loser quarter-final #3 vs. Loser quarter-final #4 (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
18:00 Semifinal #1: Winner quarter-final #1 vs. Winner quarter-final #2 (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
20:00 Semifinal #2: Winner quarter-final #3 vs. Winner quarter-final #4 (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
Sunday, March 2
13:00 5th place (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 3rd place (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
18:00 Championship final (www.CIS-SIC.tv)
(University of Regina)
--Cougars game Friday night will be shown live on Access 7 as will Saturday's 2nd final and Sunday's final..
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