WVB: Play-In Round Preview
Trinity Western visits Saskatchewan, Calgary battles Winnipeg
Article by Brian Swane, special to CW
Feb. 20, 2025 - The 2024-25 Canada West women’s volleyball season concluded last Saturday, with the top 10 teams in the final standings qualifying for the postseason.
While the top six squads earned a bye into the quarterfinals next week, the teams that finished seventh through 10th are immediately back in action for this week’s best-of-three play-in round.
There’s no time to rest for the Calgary Dinos, Winnipeg Wesmen, Trinity Western Spartans, and Saskatchewan Huskies, who are already locked into playoff mode.
Trinity Western is looking to maintain its incredible streak of reaching at least the quarterfinals, which currently stands at 19 straight postseasons. The Dinos, Huskies and Wesmen all missed out on qualifying for the Canada West quarterfinals in 2024, and a play-in round victory would represent progress for their respective programs.
Trinity Western and Saskatchewan just met for a pair of matches last week in Langley, while the Dinos and Wesmen haven’t crossed paths in more than a year. The 2025 Canada West women’s volleyball playoffs continue through March 7 and 8, culminating with the Final Four hosted by the highest seeded of the remaining teams.
Catch all the playoff action at Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.
Winnipeg Wesmen vs Calgary Dinos at Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg
- Series schedule:
- Game 1 – Thursday, Feb. 20 – 7 p.m. CST
- Game 2 – Friday, Feb. 21 – 7 p.m. CST
- Game 3 (if necessary) – Saturday, Feb. 22 – 5 p.m. CST
- Regular season head-to-head:
- did not play
- Winnipeg facts & stats
- Season record: 10-10, 33 points (7th in standings)
- Head Coach: Phil Hudson (6th year)
- Season leaders: middle blocker Grace Vallis (.298 hitting percentage), left sides Brooke Duncalfe and Selva Panincic (3.3 points per set)
- Canada West Championships: 0
- Calgary facts & stats
- Season record: 7-13, 22 points (10th in standings)
- Head Coach: Christine Biggs (5th year)
- Season leader: outside hitter Sophia Hansen (.214 hitting percentage, 3.7 points per set)
- Canada West Championships: 8 (1982, 1983, 1985, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2018)
Saskatchewan Huskies vs Trinity Western Spartans at Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon
- Series schedule:
- Game 1 – Friday, Feb. 21 – 7 p.m. CST
- Game 2 – Saturday, Feb. 22 – 3 p.m. CST
- Game 3 (if necessary) – Sunday, Feb. 23 – 3 p.m. CST
- Regular season head-to-head:
- Feb. 14: Saskatchewan 2 at Trinity Western 3
- Feb. 15: Saskatchewan 1 at Trinity Western 3
- Saskatchewan facts & stats
- Season record: 10-10, 31 points (8th in standings)
- Head Coach: Mark Dodds (10th year)
- Season leader: outside hitter Taryn Hannah (.254 hitting percentage, 4.2 points per set)
- Canada West Championships: 7 (1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1991, 1992)
- Trinity Western facts & stats
- Season record: 8-12, 25 points (9th in standings)
- Head Coach: Ryan Hofer (19th year)
- Season leaders: middle blocker Kaylee Plouffe (.337 hitting percentage), outside hitter Maryn Boldon (4.4 points per set)
- Canada West Championships: 6 (2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023)