“I wanted to soak that one in”: Marauders Capture Bronze in Dave Preston’s Farewell 

Hamilton, ON- As the bronze medal match ended, the realization came for Dave Preston.  He was standing on the sidelines of the Burridge Gym, coaching the team he’d coached since 2002– the McMaster men’s volleyball team. He had been at nationals before but this time was different.  It was his last-ever game as McMaster’s head coach. The team secured a three-set victory over the Alberta … Continue reading “I wanted to soak that one in”: Marauders Capture Bronze in Dave Preston’s Farewell 

“The Top of the Top”: How higher-ranked teams advanced in Men’s Volleyball Quarterfinals

Hamilton, ON- As quarterfinal action started and concluded at the U SPORTS men’s volleyball nationals, it would be a day for the higher-ranked seeds.  The three conference champions – the Alberta Golden Bears, McMaster Marauders, Sherbrooke Vert et Or – and the Canada West runner up Trinity Western Spartans all advanced to the semi-finals. Some games were tighter than others but none went five sets.  A … Continue reading “The Top of the Top”: How higher-ranked teams advanced in Men’s Volleyball Quarterfinals

U SPORTS WBB Final 8 Preview: Winds of Change Blowing in Sydney?

Hamilton, ON- With this year’s U SPORTS women’s basketball Final 8 field set, one thing stands out from last year: the different teams. Three of the four semi-finalists from 2022 are gone. The only teams returning from last year’s nationals are Queen’s and Acadia.  Also, five of the eight teams have never won a national championship and among the three who have (Carleton, Alberta, Calgary), only … Continue reading U SPORTS WBB Final 8 Preview: Winds of Change Blowing in Sydney?

U SPORTS Final 8 At-Large berths and Seeding Announced

Hamilton, ON- Almost all the teams had been determined already by the end of Saturday night for the men’s and women’s basketball U SPORTS Final 8 tournaments. Now, we know the seeding and matchups.  On the women’s side, the OUA champion Carleton Ravens earn the number one seed. The last time the Ravens were the one seed, they won the national title in 2018. They face … Continue reading U SPORTS Final 8 At-Large berths and Seeding Announced

2022 U Sports Women’s Basketball Exhibition Tournament Guide: Preseason Basketball is Back

Hamilton, ON- With fall upon us, it’s a reminder that exhibition tournaments and games are tipping off for U Sports women’s basketball teams. There are usually games between nonconference opponents, NCAA opponents (although none this year so far) and CCAA opponents.  One of the most exciting parts of the preseason are exhibition tournaments, where teams often play two or three games in a short time period … Continue reading 2022 U Sports Women’s Basketball Exhibition Tournament Guide: Preseason Basketball is Back

Rich’s U SPORTS MBB Final 8 Predictions

Edmonton, AL – Who doesn’t love sports brackets? Everyone gets way too invested, people way so smug when they predict something correctly, you get to feel like an idiot when the 3-seed takes down the 6-seed you were confident was going all the way in the quarter-final. For most of March, the world has been focused on March Madness in the NCAA, where the odds … Continue reading Rich’s U SPORTS MBB Final 8 Predictions

U Sports MBB Final 8 Bracketology Version 2.0: Canada West Rules

Hamilton, ON- The picture has shifted since my first edition of bracketology. With the Canada West and AUS playoffs wrapped up and the OUA playoffs underway, there is notable movement in the potential seeding for nationals in Edmonton in early April.   One of the biggest storylines is the strength of the Canada West conference, which has the chance to land four teams at nationals. The … Continue reading U Sports MBB Final 8 Bracketology Version 2.0: Canada West Rules

McMaster men’s volleyball reclaim crown with 11th Forsyth Cup title

HAMILTON, ON – The Burridge Gym was packed – as it had been for McMaster’s two previous playoff games. Like the previous two games, the visiting Toronto Varsity Blues provided a stiff test.  After the Queen’s Gaels captured the past two Forsyth Cups (OUA titles), there was bound to be a new winner between the Marauders and the Varsity Blues. McMaster head coach Dave Preston’s … Continue reading McMaster men’s volleyball reclaim crown with 11th Forsyth Cup title

U Sports MBB Final 8 Bracketology: A Two-Horse Race?

HAMILTON, ON – With playoff time just around the corner for most conferences (and already underway in the Canada West), the race to the U Sports men’s basketball nationals continues to heat up. Having looked at the potential women’s field previously, here’s how the men’s bracket is shaping up so far. This version of bracketology is following the great ones done by Neate Sager and … Continue reading U Sports MBB Final 8 Bracketology: A Two-Horse Race?