OTTAWA (CIS) – A year after hosting the national championship, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues are ranked No. 2 heading into the 2016 CIS women's volleyball championship, March 11-13, in Brandon, Man. 
 
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wvball/index
 
The eight-team competition, hosted for the first time by Brandon University, kicks off Friday and culminates Sunday with the gold-medal final at 6 p.m. Central Time. All 11 matches will be televised locally on WCGtv and webcast live on www.CIS-SIC.tv.  
 
Rounding out the seeding behind the Canada West champion Trinity Western Spartans are the No. 2 Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA champs), No. 3 UBC Okanagan Heat (Canada West finalists), No. 4 Montreal Carabins (RSEQ champs), No. 5 UBC Thunderbirds (Canada West bronze medallists), No. 6 Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champs), No. 7 McGill Martlets (RSEQ finalists) and No. 8 Brandon Bobcats (hosts).
 
Friday's quarter-finals include McGill vs. Toronto in the 12:30 p.m. CT opener, followed by Dalhousie vs. UBC Okanagan at 2:30 p.m., host Brandon vs. Trinity Western at 6 p.m., as well as UBC vs. Montreal at 8 p.m.
 
The Canada West conference – which makes up half the field this week – has dominated the national competition over the years, winning each of the last nine banners and 30 of 33 titles since 1983.
 
Among the 2016 contenders, only three have hoisted the coveted trophy in the past, including UBC with an all-time record 10 conquests, as well as TWU and Dalhousie with single triumphs in 2015 and 1982, respectively.
 
Montreal's best result at the CIS tourney is a silver medal in 2008. McGill claimed bronze in 2012. Toronto has placed fourth on two occasions, while both UBC Okanagan and host Brandon will make their championship debut this weekend.
 
A year after finishing fourth as the tournament host, Toronto's chances of reaching the CIS podium for the first time have never looked better. The Varsity Blues have put together an unblemished OUA season, including a 19-0 league record and a 3-0 playoff run capped by a straight-set domination of Ryerson in the title match. The Blues can't afford to look past first-round opponent McGill however as they lost twice to the Martlets in tournament action back in October, in Montreal.
 
"We learned a lot from last year's CIS championship and I think we have a great group of athletes that are ready to take our program to the next level," said Kristine Drakich, in her 27^th campaign at the helm. "Our strength is in our systems and in our ability to adapt. I think if we stick to our systems and adapt the way we have been all season, that good things can happen this weekend."
 

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

 
NO. 1 TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS
 
Head coach: Ryan Hofer (11^th season)
Regular season record: 20-4
Regular season standing: 3^rd Canada West
Playoff record: 4-0
Playoff finish: Canada West champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 28-4
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 4   
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (3 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 15
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1^st team all-stars: Nikki Cornwall (S), Katie Devaney (M), Elly Wendel (OPP)
Conference 2^nd team all-stars: Sophie Carpentier (OH)
Conference all-rookie team: Rowyn Neufeld (LS/OH)
CIS championship best result: Champions (2015)
CIS championship last appearance: 2015 (champions)
CIS championship sequence: 6^th consecutive appearance
 
NO. 2 TORONTO VARSITY BLUES
 
Head coach: Kristine Drakich (27^th season)
Regular season record: 19-0
Regular season standing: 1^st OUA East
Playoff record: 3-0
Playoff finish: OUA champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 30-4
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 2   
Top 10 best ranking: No. 2 (2 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 15
Conference award winners (OUA East): Alina Dormann (MVP & rookie), Kristine Drakich (coach)
Conference 1^st team all-stars (OUA East): Alina Dormann (RS), Bojana Radan (M), Madelyn Mandryk (S), Denise Wooding (LIB)
Conference 2^nd team all-stars (OUA East): Tessa Davis (M)
Conference all-rookie team (OUA East): Alina Dormann (RS)
CIS championship best result: 4^th place (2015, 2001)
CIS championship last appearance: 2015 (4^th place)
CIS championship sequence: 2^nd straight appearance
 
NO. 3 UBC OKANAGAN HEAT
 
Head coach: Steve Manuel (15^th season – 5 in CIS)
Regular season record: 22-2
Regular season standing: 1^st Canada West
Playoff record: 1-1
Playoff finish: Canada West finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 32-3
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 1
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (8 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 15
Conference award winners: Steve Manuel (coach)
Conference 1^st team all-stars: Katie Wuttunee (M)
Conference 2^nd team all-stars: Katy Klomps (M), Brianna Beamish (LS/OH)
Conference all-rookie team: None
CIS championship best result: First appearance
CIS championship last appearance: First appearance
CIS championship sequence: First appearance
 
NO. 4 MONTREAL CARABINS
 
Head coach: Olivier Trudel (12^th season)
Regular season record: 17-5
Regular season standing: 1^st RSEQ
Playoff record: 4-0
Playoff finish: RSEQ champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 28-8
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 5 (tied)   
Top 10 best ranking: No. 4 (1 week)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 15
Conference award winners: Marie-Alex Bélanger (MVP)
Conference 1^st team all-stars: Marie-Alex Bélanger (OH), Sarah Gosselin (M)
Conference 2^nd team all-stars: Alexane Joly (M), Vicky Savard (OH), Stéphanie Lojen (LIB)
Conference all-rookie team: No rookie team in RSEQ
CIS championship best result: Finalists (2008)
CIS championship last appearance: 2015 (bronze)
CIS championship sequence: 2^nd straight appearance (10^th in 11 years)
 
NO. 5 UBC THUNDERBIRDS
 
Head coach: Doug Reimer (19^th season)
Regular season record: 17-7
Regular season standing: 4^th Canada West
Playoff record: 3-1
Playoff finish: Canada West bronze medallists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 23-12
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 5 (tied)  
Top 10 best ranking: No. 5 (3 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 14
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1^st team all-stars: None
Conference 2^nd team all-stars: None
Conference all-rookie team: None
CIS championship best result: 10-time champions (2008 to 2013, 1978, 1977, 1974, 1973)
CIS championship last appearance: 2015 (6^th place)
CIS championship sequence: 21^st appearance in 22 years (missed 2007)
 
NO. 6 DALHOUSIE TIGERS
 
Head coach: Rick Scott (8^th season)
Regular season record: 14-3
Regular season standing: 1^st AUS
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff finish: AUS champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 22-3
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 8   
Top 10 best ranking: No. 7 (2 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 14
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1^st team all-stars: Anna Dunn-Suen (LS), Abby Czenze (S), Jessica Josenhans (M)
Conference 2^nd team all-stars: Mieke DuMont (LS), Marisa Mota (LIB)
Conference all-rookie team: Courtney Baker (RS/S)
CIS championship best result: Champions (1982)
CIS championship last appearance: 2015 (tied 7^th place)
CIS championship sequence: 4^th consecutive appearance
 
NO. 7 McGILL MARTLETS
 
Head coach: Rachèle Béliveau (25^th season)
Regular season record: 15-7
Regular season standing: 2^nd RSEQ
Playoff record: 2-3
Playoff finish: RSEQ finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 32-14
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 9   
Top 10 best ranking: No. 4 (5 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 15
Conference award winners: Rachèle Béliveau (coach)
Conference 1^st team all-stars: Yasmeen Dawoodjee (S), Myriam Robitaille (M), Catherine Amyot (PH)
Conference 2^nd team all-stars: None
Conference all-rookie team: No rookie team in RSEQ
CIS championship best result: Bronze (2012)
CIS championship last appearance: 2012 (bronze)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 3-year absence
 
NO. 8 BRANDON BOBCATS
 
Head coach: Lee Carter (11^th season)
Regular season record: 15-9
Regular season standing: 5^th Canada West
Playoff record: 0-2
Playoff finish: Canada West quarter-finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 20-21
Top 10 final ranking (Feb. 23): No. 10   
Top 10 best ranking: No. 10 (1 week)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (15 polls): 1
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1^st team all-stars: None
Conference 2^nd team all-stars: Donata Huebert (LIB)
Conference all-rookie team: None
CIS championship best result: First appearance
CIS championship last appearance: First appearance
CIS championship sequence: First appearance
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times CENTRAL TIME)
 

Thursday, March 10

8:00 All-Canadian Breakfast (Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre)
 

Friday, March 11

12:30 Quarter-final #1: McGill vs. Toronto (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)   
14:30 Quarter-final #2: Dalhousie vs. UBC Okanagan (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
18:00 Quarter-final #3: Brandon vs. Trinity Western (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
20:00 Quarter-final #4: UBC vs. Montreal (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
 

Saturday, March 12

12:30 Consolation #1: Loser QF #1 vs. Loser QF #2 (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
14:30 Consolation #2: Loser QF #3 vs. Loser QF #4 (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
18:00 Semifinal #1: Winner QF #1 vs. Winner QF #2 (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
20:00 Semifinal #2: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
 

Sunday, March 13

13:00 5^th place (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)   
15:00 Bronze medal (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
18:00 Championship final (WCGtv / www.CIS-SIC.tv)    
 
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
 
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 12,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:
 
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For further information, please contact:
 
Michel Bélanger        
Communications & Media Relations
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
T: 613-562-5670 ext. 25
C: 613-447-6334
E: belanger@universitysport.ca
 
Matt Packwood
Brandon University
T: 204-727-7375
C: 204-570-0842
E: packwoodm@brandonu.ca