Men’s Volleyball Championship presented by Mikasa: Spartans claim second consecutive No. 1 seed

For the second time in a row, and the fourth time since 2017, the Trinity Western University Spartans are the top seed heading into the 2022 U SPORTS men’s volleyball championship.

The seeding was announced on Sunday for the 2022 national tournament, which runs from Friday to Sunday at the University of Manitoba’s Investors Group Athletic Centre in Winnipeg. All 11 matches from the eight-team competition will be webcast live on cbcsports.ca and CBC Gem (English) and usports.ca (French), including the Tantramar Trophy final on Sunday at 4 p.m. Central Time.

Rounding out the seeding behind the Canada West champion Spartans are the No. 2 McMaster Marauders (OUA champions), No. 3 Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West Finalists), No. 4 Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA finalists), No. 5 Sherbrooke Vert & Or (RSEQ champions), No. 6 Queen’s Gaels (OUA bronze medallists), No. 7 Calgary Dinos (Canada West bronze medallists) and No. 8 Manitoba Bisons (hosts).

The quarter-final matchups on Friday will feature Calgary vs. McMaster (1 p.m.), Queen’s vs. Alberta (3 p.m.), the hosts Manitoba vs. Trinity Western (6 p.m.) and Toronto vs. Sherbrooke (8 p.m.).

Trinity Western is the top seed for the second straight national championship, and the fourth time in the past five events. The Spartans were the top seed in 2020 when the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They join Manitoba, Alberta, Queen’s, and McMaster, as teams returning to Winnipeg for this edition of the event.

This is the 12^th straight national championship tournament for the Spartans, second only among qualifiers to Alberta’s streak of 21. On the other side, Sherbrooke is making its first visit to the tournament since 2011 while Calgary is ending an eight-year drought.

The Golden Bears and Bisons are the most decorated teams in the field, with eight championships to their credit, while the top-seeded Spartans will be looking for their seventh crown. Calgary has four championships, while Sherbrooke collected its sole banner in 1975 and Dalhousie, McMaster, Queen’s and Toronto all are in search of their first Tantramar Trophy.

SEEDING:

1. Trinity Western Spartans (CW champions: 15-1 regular season, 7-0 playoffs)
2. McMaster Marauders (OUA champions: 12-0 regular season, 3-0 playoffs)
3. Alberta Golden Bears (CW finalists: 15-3 regular season, 6-1 playoffs)
4. Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA finalists: 11-1 regular season, 2-1 playoffs)
5. Sherbrooke Vert & Or (RSEQ champions: 8-4 regular season, 4-1 playoffs)
6. Queen’s Gaels (OUA bronze medallists: 10-1 regular season, 2-1 playoffs)
7. Calgary Dinos (CW bronze medal: 13-5 regular season, 4-3 playoffs)
8. Manitoba Bisons (Hosts: 7–11 regular season, 1–2 playoffs)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times CENTRAL TIME)

Friday, March 25

Saturday, March 26

Sunday, March 27

As the official volleyball Supplier of U SPORTS, Mikasa Canada will provide match balls and other prizing to the 2022 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship