MacEwan Athletics
With a growing program that now has three years of experience in the Canada West ranks, the next big goal for MacEwan University's volleyball teams is the playoffs.
Their opportunity to achieve that has been enhanced with a rule change – Canada West has increased the number of playoff teams from seven to eight in both the men's and women's ranks.
Both Griffins squads will kick off their quests for a post-season berth with a doubleheader visit to Kamloops, B.C.-based Thompson Rivers University Oct. 20-21.
It's a good way to start the campaign. Thompson Rivers is a program MacEwan has had success against, including last season when the Griffins men's squad swept them and the women earned a split.
Things get dramatically more difficult for the Griffins' home opener, though, as cross-town rival Alberta – both defending national silver medallists – hit the City Centre Campus Gym on Oct. 28.
Other highlights for the season include a visit to UBC Nov. 24-25, where the Griffins will face the defending national champion women's squad.
And to close out the first semester, the Griffins will welcome powerhouse Trinity Western – including the defending men's national champions – Dec. 1-2.
On paper, the both teams' second half of the schedule is softer, including hosting Regina (a combined 4-44 last season) on Jan. 26-27, and closing out the campaign vs. Winnipeg (13-11 men's last season and 2-22 women's) on Feb. 16-17.
The Griffins men's team has improved their win total every season since entering Canada West and are coming off a 4-20 campaign that was far better than their record indicates as they pushed several nationally-ranked teams.
On the women's side, the Griffins were in playoff contention until the final couple of weekends, finishing at 8-16, a mark which tied for eighth in the conference. But there were only seven playoff teams last season.
Best-of-three quarter-finals and semifinals will ensue for the top eight teams in the conference before a single-match final, hosted by the highest remaining seed – a change this season after the old Final Four format was eliminated through a vote from the membership.
Should the conference have three berths to nationals, the higher team to have lost in the semifinal will host a bronze-medal match.
Hamilton's McMaster will host the U Sports men's volleyball championship, while Quebec City's Laval will host the women's event, both slated for the March 15-18 weekend.
Fans will have access to every conference game on the road to nationals this season on Canada West TV – the conference's official streaming platform – as every men's and women's conference regular season and playoff game will be streamed in 2017-18.
