Brian Swane, Special to Canada West
EDMONTON – The Brandon Bobcats host the Trinity Western Spartans in what will be a true battle of the best in the Canada West Men’s Volleyball Championship at the Healthy Living Centre on Friday at 7 p.m. CST.
Brandon and TWU finished first and second, respectively, in the 2018-19 Canada West regular season standings, and currently hold the top two positions in the U SPORTS Top 10.
The finalists have been gaining momentum, hurtling towards a championship meeting, as Brandon entered the post-season with 16 consecutive wins, while TWU finished the regular season on a 9-1 tear.
TWU is seeking its fourth straight Canada West men’s volleyball title, a feat that has not been accomplished in a quarter century, when the Calgary Dinos reeled off four in a row from 1991 to 1994.
As they attempt to put a halt to that history, the Bobcats can draw confidence from their head-to-head performance against TWU this season, a pair of 3-0 victories in Brandon at the start of January. Those were the only road losses of 2018-19 for the Spartans, who recorded a conference-high 10 wins in enemy territory this season. The Bobcats, meanwhile, were a perfect, 11-0, this season at the Healthy Living Centre, where they enjoy the top home attendance in the conference.
Fans will be treated to a large assemblage of talent, with more than half of the 2018-19 Canada West First All-Star Team featured in this match-up. That list includes TWU outside hitters Jacob Kern and Eric Loeppky, as well as Brandon’s Elliott Viles, an outside hitter, and Bobcats setter Reece Dixon. Each side also includes an All-Rookie Team outside hitter; TWU’s Brodie Hofer and Robin Baghdady of the Bobcats.
Not surprisingly, Brandon and TWU ranked at or near the top of many statistical categories during the regular season. They were first and second, respectively, for hitting percentages in both the regular season and playoffs – Brandon recording .341 and .279, while the Spartans boasts rate .325 and .255.
Both teams have qualified for the 2019 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship, hosted by Laval in Quebec City on March 15-17.
How they got here:
- Defeated Calgary 2-0 in best-of-three Canada West quarter-final
- Defeated Mount Royal 2-1 in best-of-three Canada West semifinal
Canada West championships: 2013
U SPORTS championships: none
Regular season leaders:
- Kills – Elliot Viles (3.37 k/s)
- Digs – Reece Dixon (2.08 d/s)
- Blocks – Mason Metcalf (1.25 b/s)
- Service aces – Robin Baghdady (0.49 sa/s)
- Assists – Reece Dixon (11.15 a/s)
How they got here:
- Defeated UBC 2-1 in best-of-three Canada West quarter-final
- Defeated Thompson Rivers 2-0 in best-of-three Canada West semifinal
Canada West championships: 2007, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018
U SPORTS championships: 2006, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017
Regular season leaders:
- Kills – Eric Loeppky (3.59 k/s)
- Digs – Carter Bergen (2.09 d/s)
- Blocks – Aaron Boettcher (1.20 b/s)
- Service aces – Eric Loeppky (0.58 sa/s)
- Assists – Derek Epp (9.74 a/s)