MVB Final Four Preview
Winnipeg welcomes combatants from UBC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in hunt for conference title
Article by Brian Swane, special to CW
March 7, 2025 - The Alberta Golden Bears, Saskatchewan Huskies, UBC Thunderbirds and Winnipeg Wesmen have gathered for the 2025 Canada West Men’s Volleyball Final Four at the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre, and regardless of who comes out on top, it will be a historic feat, just in dramatically different ways.
Competition begins Friday with semifinal matches, as Winnipeg takes on Saskatchewan at 5 p.m. CST followed by Alberta facing UBC at 7 p.m. CST. Saturday will see the bronze medal match at 5 p.m. CST, leading up to the gold medal final at 7 p.m. CST.
Alberta is going for a third consecutive conference championship, which would equal the longest streak by any Canada West team in three decades and be a record 16th Costa Chrysanthou Trophy for the program.
Each of the other three teams in the field is looking to win its first conference championship in decades. Saskatchewan last hoisted the trophy 20 postseasons ago, in 2004. For the Thunderbirds, their last gold medal came in 1985. And the host Wesmen have never captured the Canada West crown.
But for all their differences, Alberta, Saskatchewan, UBC and Winnipeg had similarly tremendous seasons, finishing with the four best records in Canada West in 2024-25. Pick almost any major stats category, and the semi-finalists occupy the top four spots, including hitting percentage, kills, assists, and points per set.
UBC and Alberta are meeting in a rematch from the 2024 semifinal round, which was a best-of-three series swept by the Golden Bears. Alberta also won its two matches against the Thunderbirds during the 2024-25 regular season, by identical scores of 3-1 in Edmonton last month.
The Huskies and Wesmen faced each other just six weeks ago, when they split a pair of matches at the Duckworth Centre. Winnipeg defeated Saskatchewan 3-1 on Jan. 24, before the Huskies responded with a 3-1 victory on Jan. 25 in what is Winnipeg’s only loss on its home court in 2024-25.
While the Canada West men’s volleyball Final Four always delivers a tremendous two days of competition, it promises to be extra special this year at the University of Winnipeg, which is hosting the storied event for the very first time.
Tickets are available to purchase online and all the action will be streamed live and on-demand at Canada West TV – Powered by BioSteel.
Final Four Teams at a Glance
No. 1 Winnipeg Wesmen
Regular season: 17-3, first place
Playoffs: defeated Manitoba 2-0 in quarterfinal
Interim Head Coach: Chris Voth (first season)
Player to watch: Isaiah Olfert (outside hitter, fifth year)
Championships: none
No. 2 Alberta Golden Bears
- Regular season: 16-4, second place
- Playoffs: defeated Calgary 2-0 in quarterfinal
- Head Coach: Brock Davidiuk (fifth season)
- Player to watch: Isaac Heslinga (outside hitter, fourth year)
- Championships: 15 (1975, 1981, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2023, 2022)
No. 3 UBC Thunderbirds
- Regular season: 15-5, third place
- Playoffs: defeated Brandon 2-0 in quarterfinal
- Head Coach: Mike Hawkins (seventh season)
- Player to watch: Mason Greves (setter, fourth year)
- Championships: 5 (1974, 1976, 1977, 1984, 1985)
No. 4 Saskatchewan Huskies
- Regular season: 14-6, fourth place
- Playoffs: defeated Trinity Western 2-1 in quarterfinal
- Head Coach: Sean McKay (fifth season)
- Player to watch: Emmett Graham (right side, fourth year)
- Championships: 10 (1979, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004)
