WVB: Matches set for intense quarterfinal series

The 2023 Canada West women’s volleyball playoffs open this weekend, with the Trinity Western Spartans seeking a fourth consecutive championship.

TWU has plenty of competition in its pursuit of the Women’s Intervarsity Volleyball Trophy, with seven other teams rounding out the field for the best-of-three quarterfinal round taking place Feb. 23 – Feb. 26.

This weekend’s winners advance to play in the best-of-three semi-final series, set for March 3-5. On March 10, the victorious semi-finalists will square off for the Canada West championship.

To stay up-to-date on all the action, visit Championship Central.

WATCH

Catch all games streaming live on Canada West TV.

MATCH-UPS

#4 Winnipeg Wesmen (18-6) vs. #5 UFV Cascades (18-6) at Duckworth Centre (Winnipeg, MB)

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• Friday, Feb. 24 – 6:00 pm CST
• Saturday, Feb. 25 – 5:00 pm CST
• Sunday, Feb. 26 – 1:00 pm CST (if necessary)

UFV has won 10 straight games on the road, including a pair of 3-1 victories over the Wesmen on back-to-back nights at the Duckworth Centre in November. Both teams have gone 14-2 since then, to finish the season with identical records, but Winnipeg was given the higher playoff seed and the opportunity to host the quarterfinal thanks to having a higher winning percentage in sets played.

#3 UBC Thunderbirds (18-6) vs. #6 Manitoba Bisons (14-10) at War Memorial Gymnasium (Vancouver, BC)

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• Friday, Feb. 24 – 6:00 pm PST
• Saturday, Feb. 25 – 6:00 pm PST
• Sunday, Feb. 26 – 3:00 pm PST (if necessary)

This series brings plenty of unknowns, given that UBC and Manitoba played every other team in Canada West during the regular season except one another. In fact, it’s been more than three years since they lost crossed paths, in January 2020, when the T-Birds beat Manitoba twice in Winnipeg. UBC went 8-3 at War Memorial Gym in 2022-23, but has dropped its last two matches at home, while Manitoba was 3-8 on the road this season, but 3-2 in its last five matches away from the friendly confines of Investors Group Athletic Centre.

#2 MRU Cougars (19-5) vs. #7 Calgary Dinos (13-11) at Kenyon Court (Calgary, AB)

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• Friday, Feb. 24 – 8:00 pm MST
• Saturday, Feb. 25 – 5:00 pm MST
• Sunday, Feb. 26 – 3:00 pm MST (if necessary)

Crosstown rivals renew acquaintances after splitting a pair of matches on the opening weekend of the regular season in November. The Cougars are the hottest team in Canada West, winning 11 straight matches to clinch a program-best second place finish in the standings. MRU defeated Calgary in the second round of the 2022 postseason en route to winning the Canada West bronze medal.

#1 TWU Spartans (22-2) vs #8 UBCO Heat (13-11) at Langley Events Centre (Langley, B.C.)

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• Thursday, Feb. 23 – 6:00 pm PST
• Friday, Feb. 24 – 6:00 pm PST
• Saturday, Feb. 25 – 5:00 pm PST (if necessary)

TWU continues to enjoy great success against the Heat. After defeating UBCO twice in January, the Spartans have now taken 10 straight regular season games from the Heat. The Spartans have also never lost to UBCO in the postseason, most recently beating the Heat in the second round last year. TWU and UBCO both enter the 2023 playoffs on winning streaks, having won nine and five consecutive games, respectively.