X-Men hockey and cross country remain ranked in U Sports Top 10

X-Men hockey and cross country remain ranked in U Sports Top 10
Posted: Oct 25, 2016

U SPORTS TOP TEN TUESDAY (#9): Alberta and Trinity Western open at No. 1 in volleyball, UBC jumps to top spot in Women's Hockey

TORONTO (U Sports) – The Alberta Golden Bears (men) and Trinity Western Spartans (women) open the season as the top-ranked U Sports volleyball teams in the country, while the UBC Thunderbirds are the new team to beat in U Sports women's hockey.

Alberta earned 267 points to claim the No.1 position, ahead of defending national champion Trinity Western, reigning silver medalist McMaster, Manitoba and Calgary. On the women's side, the Spartans, received 60 points in the first coach's poll to open in top spot, with Alberta, UBC Okanagan, Montreal and 2016 gold medalist Toronto rounding out the top five.

Last March, the Golden Bears captured the bronze medal at the CIS championship, conceding the national title after winning back to back Tantramar Trophies in 2014 and 2015. Alberta opens its Canada West regular season in search of its third championship in four seasons with a pair of matches at Thompson Rivers this weekend.

The Spartans women won silver last winter, failing to defend its 2015 title with a straight sets loss to Toronto, in a rematch of the 2014 gold medal match. Trinity Western begins its quest to reclaim the U Sports national championship with a weekend set at Regina.

In women's hockey, UBC (5-1-0) leapfrogs Montreal (1-2-0) and Saint Mary's (3-0-1) for the coveted No.1 ranking in women's hockey, after two straight wins at Alberta.  

In other U Sports rankings, UNB (men's hockey), Laval (men's cross county and women's soccer), Guelph (women's cross country) and York (men's soccer) all maintain their pole positions for another week.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

(regular season record) / votes (1st place votes) / (previous ranking)

  1. Alberta (0-0) / 267 pts (18) / (-)
  2. Trinity Western (0-0) / 221 pts (10) / (-)
  3. McMaster (0-0) / 193 pts / (-)
  4. Manitoba (0-0) / 176 pts / (-)
  5. Calgary (0-0) / 138 pts / (-)
  6. Laval (0-0) / 136 pts / (-)
  7. Montreal (0-0) / 98 pts / (-)
  8. Saskatchewan (0-0) / 96 pts / (-)
  9. Mount Royal (0-0) / 51 pts / (-)
  10. UNB (0-0) / 40 pts / (-)

Other teams receiving votes: Waterloo (37), Western (31), Winnipeg (23), UBC (14)

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

(regular season record) / votes / (previous ranking)

1. Trinity Western (0-0) / 60 pts / (-)
2. Alberta (0-0) / 56 pts / (-)
3. UBC Okanagan (0-0) / 50 pts / (-)
4. Montreal (1-0) / 47 pts / (-)
5. Toronto (0-0) / 40.5 pts / (-)
6. McMaster (0-0) / 39.5 pts / (-)
7. Calgary (0-0) / 35 pts / (-)  
8. UBC (0-0) / 32 pts / (-)
9. Brandon (0-0) / 24 pts / (-)
10. Dalhousie (0-0) / 23 pts / (-)  

Other teams receiving votes: Memorial (20), Laval (15), Western (12), Sherbrooke (10), Ottawa (8)

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

(regular season record) / votes / (previous ranking)

1. UBC (5-1-0) / 40 pts/ (2)
2. Saint Mary's (3-0-1) / 34 pts / (3)
3. Montreal (1-2-0) / 33 pts / (1)
4. St. Thomas (4-0-0) / 27 pts / (5)
5. McGill (2-0-0) / 24 pts / (6)
6. Guelph (2-1-1) / 22 pts / (4)
7. Manitoba (6-0-0) / 14 pts / (9)
8. Western (2-2-0) / 9pts / (7)
9. Saskatchewan (5-1-0) / 8 pts / (10)
10. Alberta (2-1-3) / 7 pts / (8) 

Other teams receiving votes: Nipissing (2)

MEN'S HOCKEY

(regular season record) / votes (1st place votes) / (previous ranking)

1. UNB (4-0-2) / 142 pts (9) / (1)
2. StFX (4-2-0) / 127 pts (4) / (2)
3. Saskatchewan (4-1-1) / 97 pts / (3)
4. Mount Royal (4-0-0) / 96 pts / (8)
5. UOIT (5-0-0) / 93 pts (1) / (5)
6. Ryerson (4-0-1) / 64 pts / (6)
7. Alberta (2-2-0) / 56 pts (1) / (4)
8. UPEI (3-1-2) / 47 pts / (9)
9. Concordia (4-1-0) / 36 pts / (NR)
10. UQTR (4-2-0) / 34 pts / (7)

Other teams receiving votes:  Dalhousie (10), Windsor (10), Calgary (5), York (4), Carleton (2), Lethbridge (1), Queen's (1)

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

(points) / (previous ranking)

  1.   Guelph / 95pts / (1)
  2.  Trinity Western / 90pts / (2)
  3.   Toronto / 73pts /  (3)
  4.  Western / 56pts / (4)
  5.  Calgary / 56pts / (6)
  6.  Queen's / 40pts / (5)
  7.  Victoria / 33pts / (7)
  8.  McGill / 29pts / (9)
  9.  Dalhousie / 28pts / (8)
  10.  McMaster / 18pts / (10)

Other teams receiving votes:  Laval  (15), Alberta (10), Lakehead (5), MacEwan (5), Laurentian (3)

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

(points) / (previous ranking)

  1. Laval / 100pts / (1)
  2. Guelph / 80pts (2)
  3. Victoria / 76pts / (3)
  4. Trinity Western / 68pts / (4)
  5. Windsor / 66pts / (5)
  6. Western / 38pts / (7)
  7. McMaster / 38pts / (6)
  8. Calgary / 29pts / (9)
  9. StFX / 23pts / (8)
  10. Lakehead / 12pts / (NR)

Other teams receiving votes: Queen's (9), Alberta  (6), Toronto (5), McGill (3), Waterloo (2), Regina (2)

WOMEN'S SOCCER

(regular season record) / votes / (previous ranking)

1. Laval (11-0-1) / 60 pts / (1)
2. Trinity Western (11-0-3) / 54 pts / (2)
3. UOIT (13-2-1) / 47 pts / (3)
4. York (11-2-3) / 38 pts / (4)
5. Calgary (9-1-4) / 37 pts / (5)
6. Montreal (9-1-1) / 29 pts / (6)
7. Cape Breton (10-1-0) / 26 pts / (7)
8. UFV (9-2-3) / 17 pts / (9)
9. Ottawa (9-3-4) / 6 pts / (8)
10. Western (9-1-6) / 6 pts / (10)

* Ottawa edges Western for No. 9 spot thanks to a higher ranking the previous week.

Other teams receiving votes: Queen's (5) Memorial (3) UBC (1), Acadia (1)

MEN'S SOCCER

(regular season record) / votes / (previous ranking)

1. York (14-0-2) / 60 pts / (1)
2. Alberta (13-1-2) / 54 pts / (2)
3. Ryerson (14-1-1) / 45 pts / (3)
4. Guelph (12-2-2) / 41 pts / (4)
5. Toronto (12-2-2) / 27 pts / (7)
6. Laval 6-4-1 23 pts (6)
7. Cape Breton (8-2-1) / 17 pts / (5)
8. UQAM (4-0-6) / 17 pts / (10)
9. Acadia (7-1-2) / 14 pts / (NR)
10. UBC (9-1-6) / 13 pts / (NR) 

Other teams receiving votes:  StFX (9), Dalhousie (6), Carleton (5)

 

FRC – U Sports Football Top 10 (#9)
 RSEQ rivals Laval, Montreal hold on to top spots

TORONTO (U Sports) – The Laval Rouge et Or top the U Sports football national rankings for the second straight week, but the powerhouse from Quebec City still trails the No. 2-ranked Montreal Carabins by a slim margin in the RSEQ race heading into the final weekend of league play in La Belle Province.

Laval (6-1) earned 23 of 30 first-place votes - two more than a week ago - and 293 points in the latest Football Reporters of Canada poll, while archrival Montreal (6-1) merited five first-place nods and 273 points to remain comfortably in second position.

The remaining first-place votes went to the No. 3 Western Mustangs (7-1), who also held on to their previous spot thanks to a 243-point tally.

Rounding out the ninth Top 10 of the campaign are the No. 4 McMaster Marauders (6-2 / 155 points / up one position), No. 5 Calgary Dinos (5-2 / 153 / down one), No. 6 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (7-1 / 153 / up one), No. 7 Regina Rams (5-2 / 141 / up one),  No. 8 Carleton Ravens (6-2 / 128 / down two), No. 9 Ottawa Gee-Gees (6-2 / 39 / no change), as well as the previously unranked Saskatchewan Huskies (4-3 / 36) at No. 10.

Laval and Montreal both dominated their penultimate regular season contest this past weekend, defeating Bishop's 44-0 and Sherbrooke 30-5, respectively. First place in the RSEQ conference will be decided on Saturday when the Rouge et Or travel to Sherbrooke to face the Vert & Or (3-4) and the Carabins make the short trek to McGill to battle the Redmen (4-3).

Should both teams end up with identical records, points allowed will be used as the tie-breaker since the old foes were an even match in two head-to-head confrontations. Montreal currently holds a slim advantage in that department (72 vs. 77), and also holds a slight edge in the next tie-breaker, points scored (283 vs. 275).

In the OUA, the much-anticipated battle for first place, Saturday in London, lived up to the billing as Western beat McMaster 19-18 to earn a well-deserved bye in the first round of the conference playoffs.

The other first-round bye went to Laurier, which clinched second place ahead of McMaster thanks to a 38-9 defeat of Windsor. Carleton easily downed Waterloo 43-15 to finish fourth, while fifth-place Ottawa wrapped up league play with a thrilling 42-41 overtime win at Queen's.

In Canada West, Regina is back in the driver's seat following a 35-33 home win over UBC combined to a Saskatchewan upset of Calgary, 38-35. The Rams and Dinos both sit at 5-2 heading into their final conference games but Regina holds the tie-breaker thanks to a 32-27 head-to-head victory on Sept. 23.

The Week 10 schedule is highlighted by the start of the OUA playoffs and the end of the regular schedule in the three other conferences.

Saturday's OUA quarter-finals see Carleton host Ottawa at 1 p.m. (OUA.TV) in a rematch of the annual Panda Game won by the Ravens, and McMaster host defending conference champion Guelph at 4 p.m. (Cable 14 & OUA.TV).

Regular season finales featuring Top 10 teams include Alberta at No. 10 Saskatchewan on Friday night (7 p.m. CST, Shaw TV/Access & CanadaWest.TV), as well as the following Saturday matchups: No. 1 Laval at Sherbrooke (2 p.m., TVA Sports), No. 2 Montreal at McGill (2 p.m., StretchTV), No. 5 Calgary  at UBC (5 p.m. PT, CanadaWest.TV), No. 7 Regina at Manitoba (8 p.m. CDT, CanadaWest.TV).

NOTES: Sportsnet and TVA Sports are once again the official broadcasters of the U Sports football semifinals and final in 2016... The ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl (AUS at Canada West) and the Uteck Bowl (OUA at RSEQ) are set for Saturday, Nov. 19, while the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup follows on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. ET at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont.... For all the information on the 52nd Vanier Cup (including tickets) visit vaniercup.com.

FRC – U SPORTS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#9)

                                                Pts (1st place)   Last week

1. Laval (6-1)               293 (23)           1
2. Montreal (6-1)          273 (5)             2
3. Western (7-1)           243 (2)             3
4. McMaster (6-2)         155                  5
5. Calgary (5-2)            153 *                4
6. Laurier (7-1)             153                  7
7. Regina (5-2)             141                  8
8. Carleton (6-2)           128                  6
9. Ottawa (6-2)             39                    9
10. Saskatchewan (4-3) 36                    NR 

* Calgary edges Laurier for 5th place thanks to a greater number of higher-placed votes

Other teams receiving votes: StFX (34), UBC (2).

WEEK 9 RESULTS (all times local)

October 21
 Regina 35, UBC 33 (at Regina) 

October 22
 Mount Allison 39, Saint Mary's 9 (at Mount Allison)
StFX 33, Acadia 29 (at Acadia)
Ottawa 42, Queen's 41 OT (at Queen's)
Laurier 38, Windsor 9 (at Windsor)
Guelph 52, York 8 (at Guelph)
Western 19, McMaster 18 (at Western)
Carleton 43, Waterloo 15 (at Waterloo)
McGill 21, Concordia 8 (at Concordia)
Manitoba 67, Alberta 59 OT (at Alberta)
Saskatchewan 38, Calgary 35 (at Calgary) 

October 23
 Montreal 30, Sherbrooke 5 (at Montreal)
Laval 44, Bishop's 0 (at Laval) 

WEEK 10 SCHEDULE (all times local)

NOTE 1: Click HERE for the complete 2016 regular season schedule & results

NOTE 2: Click HERE for the complete 2016 playoff schedule & results

October 28 (regular season)
 19:00   Alberta (1-6) at No. 10 Saskatchewan (4-3) (Shaw TV/Access & CanadaWest.TV) 

October 29 (regular season)
 13:00   Concordia (3-4) at Bishop's (1-6) (GaitersTV)
14:00   Acadia (1-6) at Saint Mary's (2-5) (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
 14:00   No. 1 Laval (6-1) at Sherbrooke (3-4) (TVA Sports)
14:00   No. 2 Montreal (6-1) at McGill (4-4) (StretchTV)
 15:00   Mount Allison (3-4) at StFX (6-1) (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
 17:00   No. 5 Calgary (5-2) at UBC (3-4) (CanadaWest.TV)
 20:00   No. 7 Regina (5-2) at Manitoba (3-4) (CanadaWest.TV) 

October 29 (OUA quarter-finals)
 13:00   No. 9 Ottawa (6-2) at No. 8 Carleton (6-2) (OUA.TV)
 16:00   Guelph (3-5) at No. 4 McMaster (6-2) (Cable 14 & OUA.TV)

 

Scoreboard

  • Sat, 11/09 | Cross Country U SPORTS Championship
  • Sat, 10/26 | Football vs. Saint Mary's (2:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 10/26 | Cross Country AUS Championship W - 12pm, M - 1pm
  • Sat, 10/19 | Men's Soccer at UNB (7:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 10/19 | Women's Soccer at UNB (5:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 10/19 | Football at Mount Allison (2:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Fri, 10/18 | Men's Soccer at Moncton (7:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Fri, 10/18 | Women's Soccer at Moncton (5:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 10/12 | Women's Rugby vs. Acadia (2:00 PM ADT)
  • Fri, 10/11 | Football at Acadia (7:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Wed, 10/09 | Men's Soccer vs. Cape Breton (7:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Wed, 10/09 | Women's Soccer vs. Cape Breton (5:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 10/06 | Women's Rugby vs. Saint Mary's (2:00 PM ADT)
  • Sat, 10/05 | Football vs. Bishop's (3:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 10/05 | Cross Country Moncton Invitational W - 12pm, M - 1pm
  • Fri, 10/04 | Men's Soccer vs. Acadia (7:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Fri, 10/04 | Women's Soccer vs. Acadia (5:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 09/29 | Men's Soccer vs. Memorial (3:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 09/29 | Women's Soccer vs. Memorial (1:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 09/28 | Men's Soccer vs. Saint Mary's (3:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 09/28 | Women's Rugby at UPEI (2:00 PM ADT)
  • Sat, 09/28 | Women's Soccer vs. Saint Mary's (1:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 09/22 | Men's Soccer at Acadia (3:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 09/22 | Women's Soccer at Acadia (1:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 09/21 | Men's Soccer at Dalhousie (3:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 09/21 | Women's Rugby at Acadia (2:00 PM ADT)
  • Sat, 09/21 | Women's Soccer at Dalhousie (1:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 09/21 | Cross Country StFX Invitational W - 12pm, M - 1pm
  • Fri, 09/20 | Football at Saint Mary's (7:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 09/15 | Men's Soccer at UPEI (3:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 09/15 | Women's Rugby vs. UPEI (2:00 PM ADT)
  • Sun, 09/15 | Women's Soccer at UPEI (1:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 09/14 | Football vs. Mount Allison (2:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Fri, 09/13 | Men's Soccer vs. Mount Allison (7:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Fri, 09/13 | Women's Soccer vs. Mount Allison (5:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 09/08 | Men's Soccer vs. Dalhousie (3:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Sun, 09/08 | Women's Soccer vs. Dalhousie (1:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 09/07 | Football vs. Acadia (2:00 PM ADT) LS
  • Sat, 09/07 | Women's Rugby at Saint Mary's (2:00 PM ADT)
  • Sat, 09/07 | Cross Country Acadia Invitational W - 12pm, M - 1pm
  • Sat, 08/31 | Football at Bishop's (2:00 PM EDT) LS
  • Fri, 08/30 | Men's Soccer at Saint Mary's (7:15 PM ADT) LS
  • Fri, 08/30 | Women's Soccer at Saint Mary's (5:00 PM ADT) LS