WVB: Canada West playoffs preview

The Road to the Canada West Women’s Volleyball Final Four begins this weekend with Trinity Western seeking a third consecutive championship. But after waiting two years to defend their title, the Spartans will face many challengers in a first-time playoff format.

There are many numbers to crunch as postseason volleyball comes back to courts across western Canada. Week one, Thursday through Saturday, will see teams vying for the top two spots in each of three four-team pools, being hosted by Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Trinity Western.

Teams finishing first and second place in each pool advance to Week Two of the playoffs, March 11 – 13. The field will then be whittled down to the final four participants who will square off for the Women’s Intervarsity Volleyball Trophy, March 18 and 19.

This exciting format is brand new to Canada West, which revised its playoff structure for 2022 following the cancellation of the 2020-21 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Since returning to action in November, the student-athletes of Canada West haven’t missed a beat, showcasing their dedication throughout a successful regular season schedule that concluded last weekend.

Pool C hosted by University of Saskatchewan at Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon

Manitoba (6-10, 4th in East Division)

• Of Note: The Bisons are playing their first postseason matches since February 2019 when they were defeated 3-0 by Calgary in the Canada West quarter-finals.
• One to Watch: Second-year outside hitter Light Uchechukwu was a Canada West All-Rookie selection in 2019-20 when she played the middle position.

Mount Royal (14-4, 2nd in Central Division)

• Of Note: The Cougars earned their first Canada West medal two years ago when they beat Thompson Rivers 3-0 in the 2020 bronze medal match.
• One to Watch: Third-year outside hitter Haley Roe was twice named MRU Athlete of the Week during the season, on Nov. 4 and Nov. 25.

Saskatchewan (14-2, 1st in East Division)

• Of Note: The Huskies were undefeated at home in 2021-22, going 8-0 at the PAC while dropping just four sets in the process.
• One to Watch: Fifth-year outside hitter Emily Koshinsky is wrapping up one of the great careers in program history, after setting the all-time Huskies record with 1,210 career kills.

UBC Okanagan (8-8, 3rd in West Division)

• Of Note: The Heat are back in the Canada West playoffs for the first time since 2018, when they advanced to the U Sports Women’s Volleyball Championships.
• One to Watch: Third-year setter Sara McCreary, a graduate student who serves as team captain, was a starter for UBCO’s back-to-back Canada West Final Four trips in 2017 and 2018.

You can catch all the action on CWTV presented by Co-op. For complete updates and results, visit the playoff page.