U Sports women's volleyball
FormerlyCWIAU Volleyball
CIAU Volleyball
CIS Volleyball
SportVolleyball
Founded1969 (1969)
No. of teams42, in four conferences
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)		UBC Thunderbirds (2023)
Most titlesUBC Thunderbirds (13)[1]
Related
competitions		U Sports Volleyball Championship
Official websiteusports.ca/en/sports/volleyball/f

U Sports women's volleyball is the highest level of amateur play of indoor volleyball in Canada and operates under the auspices of U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport). 42 teams from Canadian universities are divided into four athletic conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of U Sports: Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CW), Ontario University Athletics (OUA), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), and Atlantic University Sport (AUS). Following intra-conference playoffs, eight teams are selected to play in a national tournament to compete for the U Sports women's volleyball championship.

Brief history

Organized university volleyball was first played in Ontario in the 1947-48 school year between the Toronto Varsity Blues and the McMaster Marauders where the two teams finished tied for the championship title.[2] Toronto would win the 1948-49 title in the following year. In the Western Canada Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU), the Saskatchewan Huskies were named the first champions in Western Canada for the 1949-50 season.[3][4] In 1950-51, volleyball was admitted as a sport into the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WIAU) with Toronto, McMaster, Western, and OAC becoming the first four programs to compete in an Ontario league.[2] For the 1952-93 season, McGill and Queen's joined competition in the WIAU.[2] The Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association (AIAA) began awarding championships for volleyball for the 1959-60 season which was won by the UNB Reds.[5]

In 1969, the Canadian Women’s Interuniversity Athletic Union (CWIAU) was formed to provide a national governing body for women's varsity sport in Canada.[2][6] In December 1969, the WCIAU proposed by that national championships should be established, which was accepted by the CWIAU.[7] Because this was accepted in the middle of the school year, an unofficial national championship was held at the University of Waterloo and won by the Calgary Dinos in the spring of 1970.[7][8] The first official championship was awarded following the 1970-71 season and was won by the Manitoba Bisonettes over the Toronto Varsity Blues in a match that was decided in four sets.[9]

Beginning with the 1972-73 season, the Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg Wesmen, and Regina Cougars played in the separate Great Plains Athletic Association (later renamed Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC)) while the Saskatchewan Huskies and teams from Alberta and British Columbia played in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA).[3] The GPAC and CWUAA combined back into one conference starting in the 2001-02 season.[10] The 2020 championship tournament and the entire 2020–21 season were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12]

Season structure

Exhibition season

To prepare for the season, teams will typically play a series of exhibition games against conference and non-conference opponents.[13][14] These games are usually played in September and/or October before the regular season and in December and/or January during the holiday break.[15][16]

The York Lions hosting the Toronto Varsity Blues in 2020.

Regular season

As of the 2023-24 season, the RSEQ begin their season first, on the second Friday of October.[17] The Canada West conference begins play one week later and the AUS and OUA schedules begin on the fourth Friday of October.[13][14][18] All regular season games are in-conference and the schedule ends in approximately mid-February.[13]

The AUS conference features six teams that play four games against each opponent for a total of 20 regular season games.[14] In the RSEQ, eight teams play 21 conference games for a total of three games against each opponent.[17] In Canada West, there are 14 teams in one conference that play against 12 other opponents resulting in 24 total games played.[18] The OUA also features 14 teams in one conference after previously having teams split in an east and west division.[13][19] OUA teams play two games against 10 different opponents, leaving three teams as non-combatants for each team's schedule.[19] For the OUA and Canada West conferences, teams will usually play the same opponent twice in one weekend for ease of travel and scheduling.[13][18]

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Mary Lyons Award is awarded annually to the Player of the Year in U Sports women's volleyball.[20] The Mark Tennant Award is given to the Rookie of the Year and the Thérèse Quigley Award is given to the best well-rounded student (volleyball, academics and community involvement). An award was also given for the Libero of the Year, but it was discontinued after the 2014-15 season.[21]

UBC's Lisa Barclay won the 2014 Mary Lyons Award and three national championships.

Playoffs

After the regular season, playoff games and series are held between the top teams in each conference to determine conference champions. In the AUS and RSEQ conferences, the top four teams qualify for the playoffs and play a best-of-three series including in the conference championship.[17][22] In Canada West, the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs and play best-of-three series in playoff brackets in the quarterfinals.[23] The winners of these series play in best-of-three semifinals until two teams remain where they play in a single elimination conference championship game.[23]

The OUA is the only conference that features a single elimination format in all playoff games.[19] Teams are seeded one through eight and advance to the semi-finals in a bracket format with the higher-seeded team hosting each game.[19] The highest-seeded remaining team hosts the conference championship, the Quigley Cup.[19]

National championship

The U Sports women's volleyball championship was officially established in 1971 following the organization of the Canadian Women’s Interuniversity Athletic Union (CWIAU).[2][8] A predetermined host university stages the eight-team tournament over three days and finals games are played on the last day to award gold, silver, and bronze medals.[24] The host team is automatically qualified for the tournament, as are each of the conference champions. Three other teams are entered based on the strength of their conferences and their post-season finishes.[24] The UBC Thunderbirds have won the most championships with 12 gold medals won, followed by the seven titles won by each of the Alberta Pandas, Manitoba Bisons, and Winnipeg Wesmen.[8] The national championship has historically been dominated by the Canada West conference with those teams winning 42 of the 51 championship matches as of the 2022-23 season.[8] The 2020 and 2021 championship tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Teams

Membership

There were 41 teams that had participated in the 2022–23 Women's volleyball season.[25][26] Recently, St. Francis Xavier and Cape Breton previously had programs is the AUS conference, but they were cut due to budgetary reasons in 2013 and 2015, respectively.[27][28] On the opposite side, the Canada West conference has seen a growth in team membership, adding the UBCO Heat in 2011-12, Mount Royal Cougars in 2012-13, MacEwan Griffins in 2014-15, and the UFV Cascades in 2020-21.[29][30][31] The UQTR Patriotes are playing in the RSEQ Division 1 as of the 2021-22 season after playing the conference's Division 2.[32] After becoming the 57th member of U Sports, the UQAC Inuk are fielding a women's volleyball team beginning in 2023.[33] 42 teams are scheduled to compete in the 2023-24 season.[25] The Carleton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees announced intentions to move from the RSEQ to the OUA beginning with the 2024-25 season.[34]

Canada West

UniversityVarsity NameCityProvinceArenaCWCNC
University of British ColumbiaThunderbirdsVancouverBCWar Memorial Gymnasium1613
Trinity Western UniversitySpartansLangleyBCLangley Events Centre62
University of the Fraser ValleyCascadesAbbotsfordBCEnvision Athletic Centre00
Thompson Rivers UniversityWolfPackKamloopsBCTournament Capital Centre00
University of British Columbia OkanaganHeatKelownaBCUBC Okanagan Gymnasium00
University of CalgaryDinosCalgaryABJack Simpson Gymnasium93
Mount Royal UniversityCougarsCalgaryABKenyon Court00
University of AlbertaPandasEdmontonABSaville Community Sports Centre187
MacEwan UniversityGriffinsEdmontonABDr. David W. Atkinson Gymnasium00
University of SaskatchewanHuskiesSaskatoonSKPhysical Activity Complex133
University of ReginaCougarsReginaSKCentre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport00
University of BrandonBobcatsBrandonMBHealthy Living Centre00
University of ManitobaBisonsWinnipegMBInvestors Group Athletic Centre67
University of WinnipegWesmenWinnipegMBDuckworth Centre07
  • Note: Conference titles won by teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (1972-73 season to 2000-01 season) are not included in the above table due to lack of information on this conference.[3]

Ontario University Athletics

UniversityVarsity NameCityProvinceArenaOCNC
Lakehead UniversityThunderwolvesThunder BayONThe Wolf Den00
University of WindsorLancersWindsorONSt. Denis Centre10
University of Western OntarioMustangsLondonONAlumni Hall113
University of WaterlooWarriorsWaterlooONPhysical Activities Complex00
University of GuelphGryphonsGuelphONGuelph Gryphons Athletic Centre00
McMaster UniversityMaraudersHamiltonONBurridge Gymnasium30
Brock UniversityBadgersSt. CatharinesONBob Davis Gymnasium20
Nipissing UniversityLakersNorth BayONRobert J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre00
York UniversityLionsTorontoONTait McKenzie Centre150
University of TorontoVarsity BluesTorontoONGoldring Centre121
Toronto Metropolitan UniversityBoldTorontoONMattamy Athletic Centre11
Trent UniversityExcaliburPeterboroughONTrent Athletics Centre00
Queen's UniversityGaelsKingstonONAthletics & Recreation Centre10
Royal Military College of CanadaPaladinsKingstonONSAM Gym00

Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec

UniversityVarsity NameCityProvinceArenaCCNC
University of OttawaGee-GeesOttawaONMontpetit Hall50
Université LavalRouge et OrQuebec CityQCPEPS gymnase251
McGill UniversityMartletsMontrealQCLove Competition Hall10
Université de MontréalCarabinsMontrealQCCEPSUM140
Université du Québec à ChicoutimiInukChicoutimiQCPavillon sportif de l'UQAC00
Université du Québec à MontréalCitadinsMontrealQCCentre sportif UQAM10
Université du Québec à Trois-RivièresPatriotesTrois-RivièresQCCentre de l'Activité Physique et Sportive00
Université de SherbrookeVert et OrSherbrookeQCCentre sportif Yvon-Lamarche92
  • Note: The Ottawa Gee-Gees moved from the OUA to the RSEQ starting with the 2016-17 season.[35]

Atlantic University Sport

UniversityVarsity NameCityProvinceArenaACNC
Université de MonctonAigles BleuesMonctonNBCEPS60
University of New BrunswickRedsFrederictonNBRichard J Currie Centre190
Acadia UniversityAxewomenWolfvilleNSStu Aberdeen Court00
Dalhousie UniversityTigersHalifaxNSDalplex Fieldhouse271
Saint Mary's UniversityHuskiesHalifaxNSHomburg Centre60
Memorial University of NewfoundlandSea-HawksSt. John'sNLThe Field House30

References

  1. ↑ "History". U Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Varsity Blues Women's Volleyball History". Toronto Varsity Blues. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Women's Volleyball History". Canada West. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Huskie Women's Volleyball History". Saskatchewan Huskies. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Atlantic University Sport Women's Volleyball Past Champions". Atlantic University Sport. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  6. ↑ "York Lions - Past Champions". York Lions. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "History of U Sports". U Sports. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "U Sports Volleyball Championship History". usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  9. ↑ Martin, Melissa (January 16, 2015). "The first spike: 'Bisonettes' claimed first women's national volleyball championship". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Canada West 2001-02" (PDF). Canada West. July 26, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Women's volleyball nationals cancelled at U of C". Calgary Sun. March 13, 2020.
  12. ↑ "U Sports unable to offer national championships in winter 2021". usports.ca. U Sports. October 15, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Women's Volleyball Composite Schedule". OUA. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 "2022-23 AUS Women's Volleyball Schedule". AUS. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Wesmen Classic 53". Winnipeg Wesmen. December 18, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Annual Excalibur Classic begins on Jan. 5". York Lions. December 20, 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 "Volleyball universitaire féminin division 1, Calendrier / Résultats / Classement" (in French). RSEQ. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 "Women's Volleyball Composite Schedule". Canada West. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 "OUA announces women's and men's volleyball schedules for the 2022-23 season". Ontario University Athletics. July 12, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Mary Lyons Award (Player of the Year)" (PDF). U Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Awards Sport Awards". U Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Atlantic University Sport releases 2022-23 winter sports schedules". Atlantic University Sport. May 19, 2022.
  23. 1 2 "Women's Volleyball Playoff format". Canada West. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  24. 1 2 "Playing Regulations: Women's Volleyball" (PDF). U Sports. June 25, 2019.
  25. 1 2 "Standings, Women's volleyball". U Sports. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Stage set for return to CW play in 2021-22". Canada West Universities Athletic Association. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  27. ↑ "St. FX ending women's volleyball program to cut costs". Global News. June 11, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  28. ↑ "CBU to discontinue women's volleyball program". CBU Capers. March 8, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Cascades volleyball teams get green light for move to Canada West". University of the Fraser Valley. May 9, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Expanded Season For UBCO Volleyball". castanet.net. June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  31. ↑ "New sport applications approved for TWU, MacEwan, UFV". Canada West. May 7, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Un bon départ pour l'équipe de volleyball". UQTR Patriotes. October 18, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  33. ↑ "UQAC becomes U Sports' 57th member university". U Sports. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Ottawa Gee-Gees announce intention to move women's hockey and women's volleyball programs to OUA in 2024-25". Ottawa Gee-Gees. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Women's Volleyball History". Ottawa Gee-Gees. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
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