Evan Daum, Canada West Communications

LANGLEY – The 2017-18 Canada West men’s volleyball season is set to end the same way the 2017 U SPORTS national tournament did – with the Trinity Western Spartans and Alberta Golden Bears playing for a championship.

In a rematch of last year’s national final, which saw TWU down Alberta in Edmonton, the pair renew their rivalry Saturday in the CW Men’s Volleyball Championship Game at the Langley Events Centre. 

You can watch the game live on Canada West TV – the exclusive streaming home of the conference.

CLICK HERE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM

The host Spartans enter the game fresh off a semifinal sweep of the Winnipeg Wesmen. TWU needed just six sets to make quick work of Winnipeg, who is playing UBC this weekend in the CW bronze medal game with the final conference berth to nationals on the line.

Speaking of UBC, it was Alberta who grounded the T-Birds, as the Bears earned a two-game sweep in the semis.

Now, the Spartans or Bears will continue their combined string of conference dominance, as the pair have teamed up to win the last four CW titles. Alberta claimed back-to-back titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15, while the Spartans have won the last two conference titles. TWU is looking to win three consecutive CW championships for the first time in program history and would become the first team since Alberta between 2007-08 and 2009-10 to win a trio in a row.

This weekend marks the second meeting of the season between the conference powers in Langley, as the host Spartans took both regular season meetings against the Bears back in late November.

In terms of names to watch, there’s no shortage of individual talent to keep an eye on.

On the Alberta side, the clear star is second-year outside hitter Taryq Sani. The CW first team all-star led the team in kills per set (4.07), digs per set (1.89), and aces (32) this season.

Meanwhile, on the TWU side two players jump off the page – outside hitter Eric Loepkky and setter Adam Schriemer. Both were first team all-stars, with Loeppky leading the conference in hitting percentage (.362) and Schriemer leading in assists per set (10.57).

After Saturday, both TWU and Alberta are off to the U SPORTS national tournament March 16-18 at McMaster University in Hamilton. They’ll be looking to run Canada West’s streak of consecutive national titles to five.

TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS

• Canada West championships: 4 (2006-07, 2011-12, 2015-16, 2016-17)
• National championships: 5 (2005-06, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2015-16, 2016-17)
• 2017-18 regular season leaders: 
  
  • Kills per set - Eric Loepkky (4.05)
  • Hitting percentage - Eric Loepkky (.362 - led CW)
  • Assists per set - Adam Schriemer (10.57 - led CW)
  • Digs per set - Carter Bergen (2.19)
  • Aces - Eric Loepkky (54)

ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS

• Canada West championships: 14 (1974-75, 1980-81, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 2001-02, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2013-14, 2014-15)
• National championships: 8 (1980-81, 1996-97, 2001-02, 2004-05, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2013-14, 2014-15)
• 2017-18 regular season leaders: 
  
  • Kills per set - Taryq Sani (4.07)
  • Hitting percentage - Jacob Deinum (.462)
  • Assists per set - Luke Brisbane (9.80)
  • Digs per set - Taryq Sani (1.89)
  • Aces - Taryq Sani (32)