WVB: Teams hit playoff stride, punch their round two tickets
Here's your full day two recap
Several teams earned their Round Two berths Friday, while others are now faced with some impossible tasks to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Day Two of women's volleyball action saw teams hit their strides in high-flying action, with some sending a message of dominance while others flipped the script on expected storylines.
POOL A
CGY vs TWU: The country’s top ranked Trinity Western Spartans continued to impress Friday, with balanced scoring that didn’t allow Calgary to get close after a 25-23 first set. The Spartans took sets two and three in convincing fashion to improve their postseason record to 2-0 while dealing Calgary their second loss. Full game recap here.
BDN vs UFV: Fraser Valley showed mental resilience in a grinding win Friday evening. After edging out the Bobcats in the first set, Brandon blitzed UFV in the second. The Cascades would not let that deter them, as they went out to battle in a tight third set before hitting their stride in the fourth to close out the match. The postseason win marked the first in program history for the UFV Cascades. Full game recap here.
POOL B
REG vs UBC: The UBC Thunderbirds punched their ticket to Round Two of the Canada West volleyball playoffs Friday with a dominant performance at Saville Centre in Edmonton. Regina gave themselves a glimmer of hope in the third set, but could not surpass the hard-hitting T-Birds to drop in straight sets. With the loss, the Cougars see their bid for round two come to an end. Both teams will finish out the round one round robin Saturday. Full game recap here.
WPG vs ALB: The entire Alberta Pandas roster came out with fire Friday evening, hitting kills from all over the floor to sweep the Winnipeg Wesmen in straight sets. After a 25-9 shellacking in the first frame, Winnipeg pushed back to extend the second set, but it wasn't enough for them to keep their round two bid alive. Full game recap here.
POOL C
UBCO vs SSK: The UBCO Heat proved regular-season labels don't matter when playoffs hit, taking down Western Goliath in the Saskatchewan Huskies Friday. The Huskies took the first set by a slim margin before the Heat won three straight in a statement victory in the Huskies' gym. Full game recap here.
MAN vs MRU: The Friday night match-up between the Mount Royal Cougars and the Manitoba Bisons didn't last long at the Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon. The Cougars ruled the court, sending their opponents back to the locker room after three convincing set wins. Full game recap here.
All these teams return to the hardcourt Saturday, in what promises to be some of the best competition yet, as the pools' top teams face off against each other. Don't miss a moment by tuning in to Canda West TV presented by Co-op.
Saturday Schedule
Pool A at TWU / UFV
Trinity Western vs. Brandon – 6:00 pm @ Langley Events Centre
Calgary vs. Fraser Valley – 4:00 pm @ UFV
Pool B at University of Alberta
Alberta vs. British Columbia – 6:00 pm
Winnipeg vs. Regina – 1:00 pm
Pool C at University of Saskatchewan
University of British Columbia Okanagan vs. Manitoba – 3:00 pm
Saskatchewan vs. Mount Royal – 5:00 pm
For the complete schedule and results, visit Playoff Central.