CIS Top Ten Tuesday (#25): Difficult week for No. 1 teams

OTTAWA (CIS) – The last week proved challenging for a number of CIS top-ranked teams. Although they all remain atop their respective national rankings, Simon Fraser, in women’s basketball, UNB, in men’s hockey, and Laval, in men’s volleyball, all suffered losses over the weekend, while Guelph dropped three spots to No. 4 in the women’s track and field Top 10.

Women’s basketball

The reigning national champion Simon Fraser Clan (16-1) saw their 54-game winning streak - and their quest for a perfect regular season - come to an end on Saturday when they dropped a 63-61 road decision against the No. 5 Victoria Vikes (14-4). UVic’s McKinnon Gym was also the site of the Clan’s previous loss, a 58-57 defeat in last year’s conference opener on Oct. 31, 2008.

Despite the setback, SFU received 34 of 38 first-place votes this week and leads the Top 10 for the 11th time in as many coaches’ polls this season. The Clan close out conference play Wednesday night against Fraser Valley (2-15) before opening the playoffs at home against Winnipeg (10-10) on Feb. 25.

Also highlighting the past week in CIS women’s basketball was a two-game sweep of the Regina Cougars (16-4) by the Saskatchewan Huskies (14-6). Regina drops two spots to No. 4 in the new rankings behind No. 2 Windsor (19-1) and No. 3 Saskatchewan, who both move up one position.

Men’s basketball

The 2008-09 CIS finalist UBC Thunderbirds (17-1) top the men’s basketball rankings for a second straight week after they closed out conference play with a 90-83 win over Trinity Western (9-9). The T-Birds, who posted the best record in Canada West this season and received 39 of 40 first-place votes in the new coaches’ poll, enjoy a break this week and will open the playoffs at home against Alberta (10-10) on Feb. 25.

Two marquee match-ups that could decide first place in conference standings are on the CIS men’s hoops schedule this week. No. 2 StFX (15-0), the only undefeated team in the nation, visits No. 4 Cape Breton (16-1) Wednesday evening, while No. 5 Ottawa (18-3) visits No. 3 and defending CIS champion Carleton (19-2) Saturday night.

Women’s hockey

The two-time defending national champion McGill Martlets beat Ottawa (7-10-1) 4-1 and Concordia (1-14-3) 3-0 over the weekend to improve to 18-0 in conference play and extend their women’s hockey record streak to 78 straight victories over CIS opponents, dating back to December of 2007. The Martlets, who have led all 16 coaches’ polls this season, wrap up QSSF play with tilts against No. 10 Montreal (12-5-1) Friday and Concordia Sunday.

Meanwhile in the OUA, the No. 2 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (26-0-1) looked to be on their way to a perfect campaign of their own Sunday but saw Brock score with less than two minutes remaining in regulation and then 3:34 into the overtime period to steal a 2-1 victory in the season finale for both teams. The Hawks, who lost to McGill in the last two CIS finals, enjoy a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will be back on the ice on Feb. 25.

Men’s hockey

The reigning University Cup champion UNB Varsity Reds saw their quest for the sixth perfect regular season in CIS men’s hockey history – and the first over a 28-game schedule – come to an end last Friday when they let a 3-0 lead slip away en route to a 4-3 loss to StFX (11-12-5). The V-Reds rebounded on Saturday with a 5-2 win over Dalhousie (8-16-4) to finish with a 27-1 mark and set AUS single-season records for most wins and points (54).

UNB, which leads the Top 10 for the 14th time in as many media polls this year – including unanimous No. 1 selections 13 weeks running, enjoys a bye in the first round of the AUS playoffs and will get back on the ice next week for the start of a best-of-five conference semifinal series.

No. 2 Alberta, No. 3 UQTR, No. 5 Western, No. 6 McGill, No. 7 Waterloo, No. 8 Lakehead and No. 10 Saint Mary’s all open playoff series on Wednesday.

Women’s volleyball

The two-time reigning CIS champion UBC Thunderbirds (20-0) easily completed a perfect regular season on Saturday with a straight-set win over Simon Fraser (3-17). The T-Birds, who top the national rankings for the 13th time in as many polls in 2009-2010, have a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will be back on the court next week for the Canada West Final Four.

Post-season play gets under way across the country this week including the best-of-three QSSF final between the No. 2 Montreal Carabins (20-0), who also posted a perfect mark in the regular season, and No. 9 Laval (13-7 / 2-0 playoffs).

Men’s volleyball

One week after they completed a spotless QSSF campaign, the 2008-09 CIS finalist Laval Rouge et Or (18-0) travelled to Pennsylvania where they dropped a pair of 3-1 non-conference decisions to Penn state, ranked No. 8 in the NCAA.

Laval, which leads a seventh straight CIS Top 10, is off this weekend and awaits the winner of the best-of-three QSSF semifinal between Montreal and Sherbrooke, the only playoff series on the CIS men’s volleyball schedule this week.

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

1. Simon Fraser (16-1) / 415 points (34) / (1)
2. Windsor (19-1) / 379 (3) / (3)
3. Saskatchewan (14-6) / 356 (1) / (4)
4. Regina (16-4) / 291 /(2)
T5. Cape Breton (18-1) / 278 / (5)
T5. Victoria (14-4) / 278 / (6)
7. Laval (12-2) / 210 / (7)
8. Alberta (15-5) / 173 / (8)
9. Carleton (18-4) / 140 / (9)
10. UBC (11-7) / 96 / (10)

Other teams receiving votes: Western Ontario (63), Memorial (38), Saint Mary’s (6), McMaster (2), UQAM (2).

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

1. UBC (17-1) / 477 points (39) / (1)
2. StFX (15-0) / 437 / (2)
3. Carleton (19-2) / 403 / (3)
4. Cape Breton (16-1) / 363 (1) / (4)
5. Ottawa (18-3) / 316 / (6)
6. Lakehead (16-4) / 256 / (8)
7. Calgary (15-5) / 250 / (5)
8. Windsor (15-5) / 189 / (9)
9. Simon Fraser (14-4) / 179 / (7)
10. Saskatchewan (14-6) / 85 / (NR)

Other teams receiving votes: McMaster (62), Saint Mary’s (53), Fraser Valley (10), Dalhousie (8), McGill (7), UQAM (7).

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

1. McGill (18-0-0) / (1)
2. Wilfrid Laurier (26-0-1) / (2)
3. Alberta (21-1-0) / (3)
4. Moncton (18-2-1) / (4)
5. StFX (17-2-3) / (5)
6. Manitoba (18-4-0) / (6)
7. Queen’s (19-5-3) / (8)
8. Saskatchewan (14-5-3) / (7)
9. York (17-9-1) / (9)
10. Montreal (12-5-1) / (10)

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

1. UNB (27-1-0) / 160 points (16) / (1)
2. Alberta (21-4-1) / 137 / (2)
3. UQTR (23-3-2) / 129 / (3)
4. Acadia (19-6-3) / 108 / (4)
5. Western Ontario (21-7-0) / 89 / (6)
6. McGill (22-6-0) / 88 / (5)
7. Waterloo (20-7-1) / 43 / (7)
8. Lakehead (19-7-2) / 42 / (8)
9. Manitoba (14-8-2) / 36 / (9)
10. Saint Mary’s (16-8-4) / 34 / (10)

Other teams receiving votes: Saskatchewan (8), Wilfrid Laurier (4), UPEI (2).

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

1. UBC (20-0) / 60 points / (1)
2. Montreal (20-0) / 56 / (2)
3. Manitoba (15-5) / 52 / (3)
4. Trinity Western (13-7) / 48 / (4)
5. Regina (13-7) / 44 / (5)
6. Brandon (13-7) / 37.5 / (T7)
7. Alberta (12-8) / 35.5 / (T7)
8. Calgary (10-10) / 32.5 / (6)
9. Laval (13-7 / 2-0 playoffs) / 30.5 / (9)
10. McMaster (16-3) / 19.5 / (10)

Next highest votes (11th-15th): McGill (17.5), Toronto (15), Saint Mary’s (11), StFX (10), Sherbrooke (5).

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

1. Laval (18-0) / 240 points / (1)
2. Dalhousie (14-2) / 208 / (2)
3. Alberta (14-4) / 201 / (3)
4. Calgary (13-5) / 166.5 / (5)
5. Brandon (12-6) / 134.5 / (T6)
6. Winnipeg (11-7) / 125.5 / (4)
7. Trinity Western (11-7) / 90 / (9)
8. Thompson Rivers (10-8) / 89 / (T6)
9. McMaster (15-3) / 78.5 / (8)
10. Manitoba (9-9) / 26 / (10)

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

1. Windsor 94.33 points / (2)
2. Saskatchewan 81 / (3)
3. Toronto 75 / (5)
4. Guelph 66 / (1)
5. Western Ontario 65.33 / (4)
6. Alberta 43 / (6)
7. York 34 / (7)
T8. Regina 29 / (10)
T8. Manitoba 29 / (NR)
10. Sherbrooke 28.5 / (9)

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

1. Guelph 87.83 points / (1)
2. Windsor 79 / (2)
3. Western Ontario 69.5 / (4)
4. Saskatchewan 64 / (3)
5. Ottawa 52 / (5)
6. Regina 50.33 / (6)
7. York 50 / (7)
8. Toronto 38.5 / (8)
9. Sherbrooke 35 / (10)
10. Calgary 32.5 / (9)

WOMEN’S WRESTLING (monthly rankings)
(points) / (previous rankings – January 19)

T1. Calgary 51 points / (1)
T1. Simon Fraser 51 / (2)
3. Brock 29 / (5)
4. Regina 27 / (3)
5. Western Ontario 26 / (6)
6. Saskatchewan 25 / (4)
7. Lakehead 19 / (7)
T8. UNB 17 / (9)
T8. Concordia 17 / (10)
10. Alberta 15 / (8)

Other teams receiving points: McMaster (7), Guelph (6), Toronto (5).

MEN’S WRESTLING (monthly rankings)
(points) / (previous rankings – January 19)

1. Simon Fraser 75 points / (1)
2. UNB 50 / (T2)
3. Lakehead 42 / (T2)
4. Saskatchewan 40 / (4)
5. Regina 37 / (5)
T6. Guelph 24 / (T6)
T6. Concordia 24 / (8)
8. Calgary 19 / (T9)
9. Western Ontario 18 / (NR)
10. Brock 16 / (NR)

Other teams receiving points: Toronto (13), McMaster (12), Alberta (11), Queen’s (3), Memorial (1), McGill (1).


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