The quest for the Costa Chrysanthou Trophy continues with Week 2 of the 2023 Canada West men’s volleyball playoffs, beginning Thursday and Friday.
Combining for 29 titles, and accounting 16 of the last 18 champions, the four teams set for this weekend’s best-of-three semi-final series are the winningest men’s volleyball programs in Canada West history.
The seven-time champion Trinity Western Spartans, winners of the last two titles, battle the nine-time champion Calgary Dinos in Langley. Meanwhile in Edmonton, the 13-time champion Alberta Golden Bears take on the 10-time champion Saskatchewan Huskies. This is the midpoint of the Canada West playoffs, following last week’s quarterfinal round, and ahead of the championship final between the semi-final winners on March 10.
To stay up-to-date on all the action, visit Championship Central.
WATCH
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MATCH-UPS
Trinity Western Spartans vs. Calgary Dinos at Langley Events Centre (Langley, BC)
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- Thursday, March 2 – 8:00 pm PST
- Friday, March 3 – 8:30 pm PST
- Saturday, March 4 – TBD (if necessary)
It’s now nearly four calendar years since any opponent has won a Canada West postseason match against the Spartans, who extended their streak of postseason victories by beating the Brandon Bobcats 3-1 and 3-0 in a quarterfinal sweep last week.
Calgary, meanwhile, also was on the right side of a 2-0 result in the quarterfinal round, as the Dinos upset the host Mount Royal Cougars 3-0 and 3-2 at Kenyon Court. The Dinos have now won 10 of their last 13 matches spanning the regular season and playoffs, continuing a remarkable climb from the bottom of the standings after Calgary started 2022-23 with a record of 0-5.
Two of the Dinos’ five losses to open their schedule came against TWU in Langley, by 3-0 and 3-1 scores, on Nov. 4 and 5. Combining regular season and postseason matches, the Spartans have won 13 straight against the Dinos, including a 3-0 triumph in Round 2 of the 2022 playoffs.
TWU has captured five of the six championships contested since 2015, but features a younger roster, with all but four student-athletes in their first or second year of eligibility. Calgary features several returnees from its 2022 lineup that won the Canada West bronze medal.
Alberta Golden Bears vs. Saskatchewan Huskies at Saville Community Sports Centre (Edmonton, AB)
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- Friday, March 3 – 7:00 pm MST
- Saturday, March 4 – 7:00 pm MST
- Sunday, March 5 – 3:00 pm MST (if necessary)
Alberta just keeps on rolling. After topping the Canada West regular season standings with a spectacular 22-2 record, the Bears swept Manitoba in the quarterfinal round last weekend, with match wins by scores of 3-0 and 3-2 at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
Saskatchewan’s road to the semi-final wasn’t quite so smooth, but the Huskies showed their playoff mettle last weekend in the quarterfinal round against UBC at the Physical Activity Complex. After dropping the opening match 3-0, Saskatchewan bounced back for a pair of 3-2 wins, going the distance to advance.
The Huskies were one of only two Canada West teams to beat the Bears in 2022-23. Alberta and Saskatchewan split a pair of matches in Edmonton on the opening weekend of the season way back in October but haven’t seen each other since. Their last postseason meeting came just 12 months ago, a 3-0 match victory for Alberta in the opening round of the 2022 playoffs.
While they are the defending U SPORTS champions, Alberta’s last Canada West title came in 2015. Saskatchewan last hoisted the Costa Chrysanthou Trophy in 2004, and hasn’t reached the final since 2016.