MVB: Play-In Round Preview
UBCO visits Manitoba, Calgary hosts UFV
Article by Brian Swane, special to CW
Feb. 20, 2025 - The Canada West men’s volleyball postseason is newly expanded to include a play-in round, creating new opportunities for programs looking to make a breakthrough.
In best-of-three series running Thursday through Saturday, the Manitoba Bisons will host the UBC Okanagan Heat, while the Fraser Valley Cascades visit the Calgary Dinos. The winners will advance to the quarterfinal round, joining the top six teams from the regular season standings: the Winnipeg Wesmen, Alberta Golden Bears, UBC Thunderbirds, Saskatchewan Huskies, Trinity Western Spartans and Brandon Bobcats.
Of the four teams in action this week, only Manitoba reached the playoffs in 2024. The other three squads all improved their win totals from one season ago, to clinch one of the 10 playoff berths and give light to their championship dreams.
The regular season statistics suggest these will be a pair of intriguing series, and history shows that an upset is never out of the question in the Canada West postseason.
Fans can watch all the playoff action at Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.
Manitoba Bisons vs UBCO Heat at Investors Group Athletic Centre in Winnipeg
- Series schedule:
- Game 1 – Thursday, Feb. 20 – 6 p.m. CST
- Game 2 – Friday, Feb. 21 – 7:30 p.m. CST
- Game 3 (if necessary) – Saturday, Feb. 22 – 4 p.m. CST
- Regular season head-to-head:
- Jan. 17: Manitoba 3 at UBCO 0
- Jan. 18: Manitoba 1 at UBCO 3
- Manitoba facts & stats
- Season record: 9-11, 29 points (8th in standings)
- Head Coach: Arnd Ludwig (5th year)
- Season leaders: right side Owen Weekes (.285 hitting percentage), right side Karil Dadash Adeh (3.4 points per set)
- Canada West Championships: 2 (2002, 2003)
- UBCO facts & stats
- Season record: 9-11, 27 points (9th in standings)
- Head Coach: Scott Koskie (1st year)
- Season leader: middle blocker Thys Weststrate (.451 hitting percentage, 3.1 points per set)
- Canada West Championships: 0
Calgary Dinos vs. UFV Cascades at Jack Simpson Gym in Calgary
- Series schedule:
- Game 1 – Thursday, Feb. 20 – 6 p.m. MST
- Game 2 – Friday, Feb. 21 – 6 p.m. MST
- Game 3 (if necessary) – Sunday, Feb. 22 – 2 p.m. MST
- Regular season head-to-head:
- Jan. 17: Calgary 1 at UFV 3
- Jan. 18: Calgary 2 at UFV 3
- Calgary facts & stats
- Season record: 9-11, 30 points (7th in standings)
- Head Coach: Graham Vigrass (1st year)
- Season leader: outside hitter Louis Kuntsmann (.281 hitting percentage, 4.1 points per set)
- Canada West Championships: 9 (1973, 1978, 1982, 1989, 1991-1994, 2011)
- UFV facts & stats
- Season record: 7-13, 20 points (10th in standings)
- Head Coach: Nathan Bennett (6th year)
- Season leaders: outside hitter Jonas Van Huizen (.283 hitting percentage), outside hitter Nimo Benne (3.7 points per set)
- Canada West Championships: 0