CIS Top Ten Tuesday (#26): Top-ranked teams head into playoffs

OTTAWA (CIS) – Top-ranked Simon Fraser (women’s basketball), UBC (men’s basketball & women’s volleyball), McGill (women’s hockey), UNB (men’s hockey) and Laval (men’s volleyball) all start post-season play this week.

In track and field, the four conference championships take place this weekend. The CIS meet is scheduled for March 11 to 13 at the University of Windsor.

Women’s basketball

The reigning national champion Simon Fraser Clan (17-1) lead the rankings for the 12th time in as many coaches’ polls this year after they wrapped up the regular season with a lopsided 96-38 win over Fraser Valley (2-16) last Wednesday. The Clan kick off the Canada West playoffs at home with a best-of-three series against Winnipeg (10-10), starting Thursday.

Other post-season action involving Top-10 teams this week includes No. 2 Windsor (21-1) hosting a single-game OUA quarter-final on Saturday; best-of-three Canada West quarter-finals between No. 3 Saskatchewan (14-6) and No. 5 Victoria (14-4), No. 4 Regina (16-4) and Lethbridge (8-12), and No. 8 Alberta (15-5) and No. 10 UBC (11-7); Cape Breton (19-1), tied for No. 5 with Victoria, hosting a single-game AUS semifinal game on Saturday; No. 9 Carleton (18-4 / 1-0 playoffs) hosting Ottawa (12-10 / 2-0) for the OUA East crown and a berth in the CIS championship on Saturday.

Men’s basketball

The 2008-09 CIS finalist UBC Thunderbirds (17-1) top the rankings for a third straight week. The T-Birds, who enjoyed a well-deserved rest last week after they finished first overall in Canada West in conference play, open a best-of-three CWUAA quarter-final series at home against Alberta (10-10) on Thursday night.

In other CIS men’s hoops action last week, No. 2 Carleton (20-2) edged No. 5 Ottawa (18-4) 87-86 in overtime to secure first place in the OUA East, while No. 3 Cape Breton (17-1) ended No. 4 StFX’s (17-1) bid for an undefeated regular season downing the X-Men 85-82 last Wednesday.

Other playoff action involving Top-10 teams this week includes Carleton, Ottawa, No. 7 Windsor (17-5) and No. 8 Lakehead (17-5) all hosting single-game OUA quarter-finals on Saturday; best-of-three Canada West quarter-finals between No. 6 Calgary (15-5) and Lethbridge (10-10), No. 9 Simon Fraser (14-4) and Regina (10-10), and No. 10 Saskatchewan (14-6) and Fraser Valley (11-7).

Women’s hockey

The two-time defending national champion McGill Martlets (20-0) dominated No. 9 Montreal (13-6-1) 6-1 and edged Concordia (1-16-3) 3-2 over the weekend to finish the regular season with an unblemished mark for the third consecutive year and extend their women’s hockey record streak to 80 straight victories over CIS opponents, dating back to December of 2007. The Martlets, who have led all 17 coaches’ polls this season, visit Carleton (8-12-0) on Wednesday for Game 1 of a best-of-three QSSF semifinal. Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) will be played in Montreal.

Other post-season series involving Top-10 teams this week include single-game OUA semifinals between No. 2 Wilfrid Laurier (26-0-1) and Windsor (13-14-0 / 1-0 playoffs) and No. 7 Queen’s (19-5-3) and Guelph (14-10-3 / 1-0) on Thursday; best-of-three Canada West semifinals between No. 3 Alberta (23-1-0) and Regina (7-11-6) and No. 6 Manitoba (18-6) and No. 8 Saskatchewan (16-5-3); No. 4 Moncton (21-2-1) and No. 5 StFX (18-2-4) competing at the AUS championship starting Thursday; as well as a best-of-three QSSF semifinal between No. 9 Montreal and Ottawa (8-11-1).

Men’s hockey

The reigning University Cup champion UNB Varsity Reds enjoyed a bye in the first round of the AUS playoffs last week following a record-setting 27-1-0 regular season that saw them set a new CIS standard for most wins in a campaign and tie the all-time mark for most points (54). The V-Reds, who lead the Top 10 for the 15th time in as many media polls this year, open a best-of-five AUS semifinal against StFX (11-12-5 / 2-0 playoffs) on Thursday.

The playoffs started in the OUA and AUS last week with No. 3 UQTR (23-3-2 / 2-1), No. 5 McGill (22-6-0 / 2-0), No. 6 Western (21-7-0 / 2-1), No. 7 Lakehead (19-7-2 / 2-1) and No. 8 Saint Mary’s (16-8-4 / 2-0) all advancing. The only ranked team to fall in the opening round was Waterloo (No. 7 a week ago), which was upset in three games by Windsor.

This week’s other post-season series involving Top-10 teams include best-of-three OUA quarter-finals between UQTR and Ryerson (12-13-3 / 2-0), McGill and Carleton (15-10-3 / 2-1), Western and Windsor (10-13-5 / 2-1) and Lakehead and Guelph (14-11-3 / 2-1), as well as a best-of-five AUS semi-final between No. 4 Acadia (19-6-3) and Saint Mary’s.

Women’s volleyball (NOTE: last rankings of season published last week)

The two-time reigning CIS champion UBC Thunderbirds (20-0) enjoyed a bye last week in the first round of the Canada West playoffs.

The T-Birds, who topped all 13 national rankings in 2009-2010, compete in the CWUAA Final Four this weekend in Winnipeg, where they’ll face No. 5 Regina (13-7 / 2-0 playoffs) in a single-game semifinal on Friday night. The other semi will pit No. 3 Manitoba (15-5 / 2-0) against No. 4 Trinity Western (13-7 / 2-0). The winners of Friday’s duels advance to the CIS championship to be held at the University of Alberta, from March 5 to 7.

In addition to host Alberta (12-8 / 0-2), ranked seventh in the nation, three teams qualified for the CIS tournament last week. No. 2 Montreal (20-0 / 2-0) beat No. 9 Laval (13-7 / 2-2) in two games in the QSSF final, while Saint Mary’s (11-7 / 2-0) was crowned AUS champion thanks to a straight-set win over StFX. Laval will be in Edmonton as Quebec’s second entry.

No. 10 McMaster (16-3 / 1-0) hosts the OUA Final Four on Friday and Saturday with Friday’s winners earning tickets for Edmonton. The OUA semis see the Marauders battle Queen’s (13-6 / 1-0), and Western (14-5 / 1-0) face Toronto (14-5 / 1-0).

Men’s volleyball

The 2008-09 CIS finalist Laval Rouge et Or (18-0), who had a bye last week in the first round of the QSSF playoffs, lead the Top 10 for the eighth consecutive week. The best-of-three Quebec final between Laval and Montreal (9-9 / 2-0 playoffs) gets under way in Quebec City on Sunday, with both teams having already qualified for the CIS championship to be held at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C., from March 12 to 14.

No. 2 Alberta (14-4) has a bye in the first round of the Canada West playoffs. This week’s best-of-three conference quarter-finals pit No. 4 Calgary (13-5) against No. 10 Manitoba (9-9), No. 5 Brandon (12-6) against No. 9 Thompson Rivers (10-8), and No. 6 Winnipeg (11-7) against No. 7 Trinity Western (11-7).

No. 3 Dalhousie (16-2) battles UNB (9-9) in the best-of-three AUS final starting Friday. In the OUA, No. 8 McMaster (17-3) is off until March 5-6, when they’ll host the OUA Final Four.

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

1. Simon Fraser (17-1) / 468 points (39) / (1)
2. Windsor (21-1) / 429 / (2)
3. Saskatchewan (14-6) / 388 / (3)
4. Regina (16-4) / 347 /(4)
T5. Cape Breton (19-1) / 300 / (T5)
T5. Victoria (14-4) / 300 / (T5)
7. Laval (12-2) / 229 / (7)
8. Alberta (15-5) / 199 / (8)
9. Carleton (18-4 / 1-0 playoffs) / 157 / (9)
10. UBC (11-7) / 109 / (10)

Other teams receiving votes: Western Ontario (55), Saint Mary’s (23), Memorial (15), UQAM (10), Lakehead (5).

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

1. UBC (17-1) / 490 points (40) / (1)
2. Carleton (20-2) / 435 / (3)
3. Cape Breton (17-1) / 421 (1) / (4)
4. StFX (17-1) / 367 / (2)
5. Ottawa (18-4) / 314 / (5)
6. Calgary (15-5) / 276 / (7)
7. Windsor (17-5) / 241 / (8)
8. Lakehead (17-5) / 219 / (6)
9. Simon Fraser (14-4) / 177 / (9)
10. Saskatchewan (14-6) / 122 / (10)

Other teams receiving votes: Saint Mary’s (45), McMaster (37), Fraser Valley (19), UQAM (16), Dalhousie (6).

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

1. McGill (20-0-0) / (1)
2. Wilfrid Laurier (26-0-1) / (2)
3. Alberta (23-1-0) / (3)
4. Moncton (21-2-1) / (4)
5. StFX (18-2-4) / (5)
6. Manitoba (18-6-0) / (6)
7. Queen’s (19-5-3) / (7)
8. Saskatchewan (16-5-3) / (8)
9. Montreal (13-6-1) / (10)
10. York (17-9-1 / 0-1 playoffs) / (9)

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

1. UNB (27-1-0) / 180 points (18) / (1)
2. Alberta (23-4-1) / 161 / (2)
3. UQTR (23-3-2 / 2-1 playoffs) / 133 / (3)
4. Acadia (19-6-3) / 124 / (4)
5. McGill (22-6-0 / 2-0 playoffs) / 106 / (6)
6. Western Ontario (21-7-0 / 2-1 playoffs) / 98 / (5)
7. Lakehead (19-7-2 / 2-1 playoffs) / 63 / (8)
8. Saint Mary’s (16-8-4 / 2-0 playoffs) / 51 / (10)
9. Saskatchewan (15-7-4) / 37 / (NR)
10. Manitoba (14-10-2) / 20 / (9)

Other teams receiving votes: Waterloo (6), Guelph (4), Ryerson (2), Wilfrid Laurier (2), Windsor (2), Calgary (1).

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

NOTE: Final rankings of season published on February 16.

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

1. Laval (18-0) / 209.5 points / (1)
2. Alberta (14-4) / 185.5 / (3)
3. Dalhousie (16-2) / 181.5 / (2)
4. Calgary (13-5) / 147 / (4)
5. Brandon (12-6) / 127.5 / (5)
6. Winnipeg (11-7) / 104 / (6)
7. Trinity Western (11-7) / 89.5 / (7)
8. McMaster (17-3) / 65 / (9)
9. Thompson Rivers (10-8) / 61.5 / (8)
10. Manitoba (9-9) / 21 / (10)

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

1. Windsor 91 points / (1)
2. Toronto 83 / (3)
3. Saskatchewan 77 / (2)
4. Western Ontario 71 / (5)
5. Guelph 58.5 / (4)
6. Alberta 41 / (6)
7. Sherbrooke 35.5 / (10)
8. York 34 / (7)
9. Regina 28.5 / (T8)
10. Calgary 28 / (NR)

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

1. Guelph 88.83 points / (1)
2. Windsor 77 / (2)
3. Western Ontario 70.5 / (3)
4. Saskatchewan 61.5 / (4)
5. Ottawa 51 / (5)
6. York 50 / (7)
7. Regina 48.33 / (6)
8. Toronto 37.5 / (8)
9. Sherbrooke 36 / (9)
10. Calgary 31.5 / (10)


-CIS-