If you live in the Fraser Valley or Lower Mainland this past weekend was a special treat. The top College teams from BC as well as the best University teams from Western Canada were playing for a chance to compete in their respective National Championships. The result was three days of fantastic volleyball for spectators to enjoy. 

Canada West Women’s Recap: The #1 UBC Thunderbirds hosted the Final Four at War Memorial Gym in Vancouver, BC. On Friday evening at 6pm the #1 UBC Tbirds beat #4 UBC-Okanagan Heat in a 4 set battle. The Thunderbirds beat the Heat 25-17, 25-14, 22-25, 25-21 in front of a divided crowed cheering for both the Vancouver & Kelowna UBC campus teams. At 8pm the #3 Manitoba Bisons swept #2 Trinity Western Spartans 25-17, 25-21, 25-23. On Saturday evening fans enjoyed the 5pm Bronze Medal match followed by the 7pm Gold Medal match. The TWU Spartans prevailed over the UBC-O Heat to capture the 2014 Canada West Bronze Medal 18-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-14.  In the Gold Medal match the UBC Thunderbirds swept the Manitoba Bisons 25-20, 25-19, 25-22.

The top three teams in the Canada West conference earned a berth to National Championships at the University of Regina February 28-March 2, 2014. Canada West was awarded the top three seeds at National Championships – No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds (Canada West champs), No. 2 Manitoba Bisons (Canada West finalists), No. 3 Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West bronze medallists), No. 4 Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ champions), No. 5 McMaster Marauders (OUA champs), No. 6 Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champs), No. 7 Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA finalists) and No. 8 Regina Cougars (hosts).

Canada West Men’s Recap: The #1 Trinity Western Spartans hosted the Final Four at the Langley Event Centre in Langley, BC. On Friday evening at 6pm the Alberta Golden Bears swept the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack 25-17, 26-24, 25-17. In the feature match at 8pm, home court advantage paid off for the TWU Spartans as they beat the Brandon Bobcats 25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19. In the Bronze Medal match on Saturday evening at 5pm the TRU Wolfpack prevailed over the Brandon Bobcats 25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 25-23. In the Gold Medal Match the Golden Bears proved too much for the Spartans to handle. Despite TWU putting up a good fight, Alberta won the match 25-20, 26-24, 26-24.

Both TWU Spartans and Alberta Golden Bears earned berths to the National Championships hosted at the University of Calgary February 27-March 1. The Canada West Champions earned the #1 seed in the tournament. Rounding out the seeding behind the Alberta Golden Bears are the No. 2 McMaster Marauders (OUA champions), No. 3 Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West finalists), No. 4 Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champs), No. 5 and defending national champ Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ champs), No. 6 Western Mustangs (OUA finalists), No. 7 Calgary Dinos (hosts) and No. 8 Montreal Carabins (RSEQ finalists).

Click here to view the complete list of Canada West All-Stars from the 2013-2104 season.