Volleyball, basketball, hockey, and men’s soccer in action this week.

LANGLEY, B.C. – Another busy week for This Week in Sparta. Men’s and women’s volleyball are set for their Canada West home openers, with men’s soccer set for senior weekend hosting their final conference games of the Canada West season. Men’s and women’s basketball are on the road for their final pre-season tournaments before opening Canada West conference play next weekend, while men’s and women’s hockey are set for home-and-home series with UBC.
 
HOME
 
MEN’S SOCCER
Friday, October 20 vs UBC Thunderbirds, Langley, BC
7:15 p.m. (PT) – Chase Office Field | WATCH
Saturday, October 21 vs Victoria Vikes, Langley, BC
7:15 p.m. (PT) – Chase Office Field | WATCH
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans are currently third in the Pacific division at 6-2-5 (.654).
• The UBC Thunderbirds are first in the Pacific division at 11-1-2 (.857).
• The Spartans are 11-26-14 lifetime against the Thunderbirds.
• In their last meeting on September 9, the Spartans tied the T-birds 1-1 in Vancouver.
• The Victoria Vikes are second in the Pacific division at 9-3-2 (.714).
• The Spartans are 21-23-5 lifetime against the Vikes.
• In their last meeting on September 8, the Spartans tied the Vikes 1-1 in Victoria.
• The Thunderbirds, Vikes, and Spartans are locked into their final play-off positions heading into the final two matches of the season.
• TWU will play Alberta in the opening round of the playoffs at UBC the weekend of October 27.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Friday, October 20 vs Fraser Valley Cascades, Langley, BC
5:00 p.m. (PT) – Langley Event Centre | WATCH
Saturday, October 21 vs Fraser Valley Cascades, Langley, BC
4:00 p.m. (PT) – Langley Events Centre | WATCH

NOTABLE

• This is the 2023-24 Canada West opening weekend for the Spartans and the Cascades.
• The defending four-time Canada West champion Spartans open the season ranked No. 5 in the CW annual coaches’ poll.
• The Cascades open the season ranked No. 1 in the coaches’ poll. A first for the Cascades.
• TWU finishes the preseason at 3-5, while UFV finishes at 2-1.
• The Spartans are 10-0 lifetime against the Cascades.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Friday, October 20 vs Fraser Valley Cascades, Langley, BC
7:00 p.m. (PT) – Langley Event Centre | WATCH
Saturday, October 21 vs Fraser Valley Cascades, Langley, BC
6:00 p.m. (PT) – Langley Events Centre | WATCH

NOTABLE

• This is the 2023-24 Canada West opening weekend for the Spartans and the Cascades.
• The defending U SPORT champion Spartans open the season ranked No. 3 in the CW annual coaches’ poll.
• The Cascades open the season ranked No. 11 in the coaches’ poll.
• TWU finishes the preseason at 6-3, while UFV finishes at 1-1.
• The Spartans are 8-0 lifetime against the Cascades.

HOME/AWAY
 
MEN’S HOCKEY
Thursday, October 19 vs UBC Thunderbirds, Langley, BC
7:00 p.m. (PT) – Langley Events Centre | WATCH
Saturday, October 21 at UBC Thunderbirds, Vancouver, BC
3:00 p.m. (PT) – Father David Bauer Arena | WATCH

NOTABLE

• TWU is currently 0-4 in Canada West, while UBC is 6-0.
• The Spartans are 0-16 lifetime against the Thunderbirds.
• Last week TWU lost 6-2, and 4-2 to the Regina Cougars in Langley, B.C.
• Last week the undefeated T-Birds defeated the Manitoba Bisons 4-3, and 5-2 in Vancouver, B.C.
• In preseason action TWU lost 4-3, and 6-1 to UBC in a home-and-home series.

 WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Friday, October 20 vs UBC Thunderbirds, Langley, BC
7:00 p.m. (PT) – Langley Events Centre | WATCH
Saturday, October 21 at UBC Thunderbirds, Vancouver, BC
1:00 p.m. (PT) – Father David Bauer Arena | WATCH

NOTABLE

• TWU is currently 3-0-1 in Canada West, while UBC is 5-0-1.
• The Spartans, T-Birds, and Saskatchewan Huskies (4-0) are the only teams left in Canada West who have not been beaten in regulation.
• The Spartans are 2-11 lifetime against the Thunderbirds.
• Last week TWU defeated the Regina Cougars 2-1, and 5-2 in Regina, Sask.
• Last week the undefeated T-Birds defeated the Manitoba Bisons 4-3, and 5-2 in Vancouver, B.C.
• In preseason action TWU defeated UBC 2-0 in Vancouver, B.C.
• UBC is the defending Canada West champions.
• UBC’s Mackenzie Kordic was named U SPORTS women’s hockey player of the week last week.

AWAY
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MacEwan Griffins Tournament | Edmonton, Alta.
Friday, October 20 vs MacEwan Griffins
8:00 pm (MT) – David Atkinson Gymnasium
Saturday, October 21 vs Alberta Golden Bears
3:00 pm (PT) – David Atkinson Gymnasium

NOTABLE

• This tournament is the final preseason games for the Spartans.
• Last week the Spartans went 2-1 at the Heat Fall Classic tournament. Losing to Ottawa 74-48, and defeating UBC Okanagan 74-61, and Mount Royal 105-72.
• The Spartans are 5-3 lifetime against the Griffins.
• TWU is 6-24 lifetime against Alberta.
• The Spartans open the Canada West season on Nov.3-4 when they will travel to Kamloops, B.C. to play the Thompson Rivers WolfPack. Both games are at 7:30 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canadawest.tv.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Second Annual Athlete Empowered Classic | York University | Toronto, Ont.
Friday, October 20 vs Toronto Varsity Blues
9:00 am (ET) – Tait McKenzie Centre
Saturday, October 21 vs York Lions
12:00 pm (ET) – Tait McKenzie Centre
Saturday, October 22 vs Concordia Stingers
9:00 am (ET) – Tait McKenzie Centre

NOTABLE

• This tournament is the final preseason games for the Spartans.
• Last week the Spartans went 0-2 at the UBC tournament. Losing to Mount Royal 65-39, and Bishop’s 77-74.
• The Spartans are 1-1 lifetime against the Varsity Blues.
• TWU is 1-0 lifetime against York.
• The Spartans are 0-1 lifetime against Concordia.
• Kamloops, B.C. to play the Thompson Rivers WolfPack. Both games are at 5:30 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canadawest.tv.

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country, and track & field, as well as women’s rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men’s rugby, as well as women’s and men’s disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.
 
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