CIS Top Ten Tuesday (#24): UBC back on top in men’s hoops

OTTAWA (CIS) – The game of musical chair continues in CIS men’s basketball as the UBC Thunderbirds return to No. 1 in the rankings while the defending national champion Carleton Ravens drop out of the top two for the first time in three years.

Men’s basketball

No less than four teams received No. 1 consideration in this week’s coaches’ poll with UBC (16-1) garnering 38 first-place votes, St. Francis Xavier (14-0) and Carleton (17-2) receiving two nods apiece, and Cape Breton (14-1) earning one.

A week after dropping to No. 2 following their first loss of the regular season (to No. 7 Simon Fraser), the Thunderbirds climb back to the top after a two-game sweep of Victoria (8-9), 78-72 and 90-41. The ‘Birds, who have secured first place in the Canada West Pacific Division and overall standings, wrap up conference play on Saturday when they host Trinity Western (9-8).

Meanwhile, the Ravens, winners of six of the last seven W.P. McGee trophies as CIS champions, were stunned 80-74 by York (4-14) last Friday before rebounding with an 83-71 win over Laurentian (6-12) on Saturday. Following the upset loss to the Lions, Carleton drops to No. 3 in the new poll, marking the first time since the week of February 27, 2007 the Ravens haven’t been ranked first or second in the nation.

The only undefeated team in CIS men’s basketball, StFX continued to roll in the AUS and reach a season-high No. 2 in the Top 10 following an 84-64 success over Dalhousie (10-6) in its lone outing of the past week.

Women’s basketball

The reigning national champion Simon Fraser Clan (16-0) lead the Top 10 for the tenth time in as many coaches’ polls this season following a pair of lopsided victories over Thompson Rivers (3-15), 88-49 and 81-47, that extended their remarkable win streak to 54 consecutive games dating back to a season-opening loss to Victoria a year ago.

SFU has two games remaining on its conference schedule, both on the road, against No. 6 Victoria (13-4) on Saturday and Fraser Valley (2-15) on February 17. The Clan are the only remaining undefeated team in CIS women’s hoops after No. 5 Cape Breton (16-1) was upset by UNB (7-10) last Friday, 87-86 in overtime.

Women’s hockey

The two-time defending national champion McGill Martlets (16-0) blanked Carleton (7-10) 2-0 on Saturday to keep their perfect conference record intact and extend their women’s hockey record streak to 76 straight victories over CIS opponents, dating back to December of 2007. The Martlets, who have led all 15 coaches’ polls this season, host Ottawa (7-9-1) Friday and visit No. 10 Montreal (11-5-1) Saturday.

No. 2 Wilfrid Laurier (24-0), which lost to McGill in the last two CIS finals, is also undefeated in conference play in 2009-2010. The Golden Hawks, who dominated No. 9 York (16-8-1) 8-3 on Sunday, can wrap up a spotless regular schedule this weekend with wins over No. 8 Queen’s (18-5-2) and UOIT (4-16-5).

Also of note for Laurier, goaltender Liz Knox blanked Toronto 3-0 on Saturday for her 11th shutout of the campaign, tying the CIS single-season mark established in 2007-08 by McGill’s Olympic gold medalist Charline Labonté, who took a year off from university hockey this year and will once again represent Canada at the Vancouver Olympics.

Men’s hockey

The reigning University Cup champion UNB Varsity Reds lead the Top 10 for the 13th time in as many media polls this year following a three-win, record-setting week. UNB defeated Moncton, 5-1, StFX, 5-3, and Dalhousie, 4-1 to improve to 26-0 in conference play and set a CIS mark for most wins to open the regular season. The previous record for consecutive victories at the start of a campaign was held by Western Ontario since 2002-03, when the Mustangs skated to a perfect 24-0 season.

The V-Reds also tied their own AUS record for most wins in a season and need two points over their final two conference games to set a new AUS mark for most points. They established both records in 2007-08 when they went 26-1-1.

The defending national champions hope to become the fifth CIS men’s hockey team since 1962-63 (first year of University Cup championship) to finish the regular season with a perfect record following the ‘02-03 Mustangs, Saint Mary’s (21-0) and Toronto (17-0) in 1972-73, as well as St. Francis Xavier in 1965-66 (14-0). UNB wraps up conference play at home this weekend with tilts against StFX (10-12-4) on Friday and Dalhousie (8-14-4) on Saturday.

Women’s volleyball

The two-time reigning CIS champion UBC Thunderbirds (19-0) resumed their outstanding season with a pair of wins over No. 7 Alberta (12-8), marking their fifth straight weekend sweep of a Top-10 opponent. The T-Birds, who lead the national rankings for the 12th time in as many polls in 2009-2010, had to overcome a two-set-to-one deficit to prevail in five in the series opener on Friday, before winning more convincingly, 3-0, on Saturday.

No. 1 UBC will try to complete an unblemished regular schedule Saturday against Simon Fraser (3-16).

The No. 2 Montreal Carabins (20-0) have already accomplished that feat in Quebec, securing the first perfect campaign in team history with straight-set dominations of No. 9 Laval (13-7) and McGill (13-7). The Carabins booked their ticket for the QSSF final starting on February 19 against either Laval or McGill, and also earned a berth in the CIS championship in Edmonton (March 5-7).

Men’s volleyball

The 2008-09 national finalist Laval Rouge et Or lead the Top 10 for the sixth consecutive week after they put the finishing touch to a perfect 18-0 campaign with 3-1 victories over Sherbrooke (7-11) and Montreal (9-9).

The Rouge et Or, who earned a ticket for the CIS championship hosted by Thompson Rivers (March 12-14), advance straight to the QSSF final against Sherbrooke or Montreal starting on February 28. They begin their preparation this weekend in Pennsylvania with a pair of non-conference duels against Penn State, ranked No. 8 in the NCAA.

Track & Field

The Guelph Gryphons top the women’s and men’s rankings this week. The Guelph men were already No. 1 last week while the Gryphon women are up from No. 2.

The OUA championships are set for February 26-27, with the CIS meet following from March 11 to 13 at Windsor.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
(regular season record) / (votes – first-place votes) / (previous rankings)

1. Simon Fraser (16-0) / 516 points (43) / (1)
2. Regina (16-2) / 471 /(2)
3. Windsor (17-1) / 429 / (3)
4. Saskatchewan (12-6) / 381 / (5)
5. Cape Breton (16-1) / 330 / (4)
6. Victoria (13-4) / 316 / (7)
7. Laval (10-2) / 241 / (6)
8. Alberta (15-5) / 235 / (8)
9. Carleton (16-4) / 157 / (10)
10. UBC (10-7) / 124 / (9)

Other teams receiving votes: Western Ontario (96), Memorial (29), Brock (3), StFX (3), McGill (3).

MEN’S BASKETBALL
(regular season record) / (votes – first-place votes) / (previous rankings)

1. UBC (16-1) / 509 points (38) / (2)
2. StFX (14-0) / 459 (2) / (3)
3. Carleton (17-2) / 444 (2) / (1)
4. Cape Breton (14-1) / 388 (1) / (4)
5. Calgary (15-4) / 340 / (5)
6. Ottawa (16-3) / 303 / (6)
7. Simon Fraser (14-3) / 265 / (7)
8. Lakehead (14-4) / 212 / (8)
9. Windsor (13-5) / 171 / (9)
10. McMaster (12-6) / 94 / (NR)

Other teams receiving votes: Dalhousie (63), Saskatchewan (60), Saint Mary’s (18), Fraser Valley (9), McGill (7).

WOMEN’S HOCKEY
(regular season record) / (previous rankings)

1. McGill (16-0-0) / (1)
2. Wilfrid Laurier (24-0-0) / (2)
3. Alberta (21-1-0) / (3)
4. Moncton (16-2-1) / (4)
5. StFX (15-2-3) / (5)
6. Manitoba (18-4-0) / (6)
7. Saskatchewan (14-5-3) / (7)
8. Queen’s (18-5-2) / (9)
9. York (16-8-1) / (8)
10. Montreal (11-5-1) / (10)

MEN’S HOCKEY
(regular season record) / (votes – first place votes) / (previous rankings)

1. UNB (26-0-0) / 170 points (17) / (1)
2. Alberta (20-3-1) / 149 / (2)
3. UQTR (21-3-2) / 129 / (3)
4. Acadia (18-6-2) / 121 / (4)
5. McGill (20-6-0) / 96 / (6)
6. Western Ontario (19-7-0) / 70 / (5)
7. Waterloo (19-6-1) / 62 / (9)
8. Lakehead (18-6-2) / 60 / (7)
9. Manitoba (14-8-2) / 38 / (8)
10. Saint Mary’s (14-8-4) / 21 / (10)

Other teams receiving votes: Saskatchewan (12), Wilfrid Laurier (7).

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
(regular season record) / (votes) / (previous rankings)

1. UBC (19-0) / 60 points / (1)
2. Montreal (20-0) / 55 / (2)
3. Manitoba (13-5) / 53 / (3)
4. Trinity Western (11-7) / 48 / (5)
5. Regina (12-6) / 43 / (6)
6. Calgary (9-9) / 41 / (8)
T7. Brandon (12-6) / 34 / (4)
T7. Alberta (12-8) / 34 / (7)
9. Laval (13-7) / 28 / (10)
10. McMaster (16-2) / 24 / (NR)

Next highest votes (11th-15th): McGill (15), Sherbrooke (10), Saint Mary’s (9), UNB (9), Toronto (7).

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
(regular season record) / (votes) / (previous rankings)

1. Laval (18-0) / 250 points / (1)
2. Dalhousie (14-2) / 215 / (2)
3. Alberta (14-4) / 213 / (3)
4. Winnipeg (11-5) / 148.5 / (7)
5. Calgary (11-5) / 131 / (4)
T6. Thompson Rivers (9-7) / 112.5 / (6)
T6. Brandon (10-6) / 112.5 / (9)
8. McMaster (14-3) / 102 / (5)
9. Trinity Western (10-6) / 100 / (8)
10. Manitoba (7-9) / 26 / (10)

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD
(points) / (previous rankings)

1. Guelph 86 points / (2)
2. Windsor 85 / (1)
3. Saskatchewan 80 / (4)
4. Western Ontario 68 / (3)
5. Toronto 45 / (T6)
6. Alberta 40.5 / (T6)
7. York 37 / (5)
8. Calgary 31 / (9)
9. Sherbrooke 28.5 / (T6)
10. Regina 27 / (NR)

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD
(points) / (previous rankings)

1. Guelph 91.83 points / (1)
2. Windsor 78 / (4)
3. Saskatchewan 69 / (2)
4. Western Ontario 64.5 / (5)
5. Ottawa 57 / (4)
6. Regina 49.33 / (7)
7. York 43 / (6)
8. Toronto 39.5 / (8)
9. Calgary 37.5 / (NR)
10. Sherbrooke 25 / (9)


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