Underdog Brandon Bobcats win men's volleyball title for 1st time, upsetting defending champs

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 24, 2025 11:40 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

The Brandon University Bobcats clawed their way to the apical of the U Sports nutrient concatenation connected Sunday evening, claiming their first-ever national rubric successful men's volleyball.

The underdog Bobcats, ranked No. 8 going into the eight-team tournament, downed the defending champion Alberta Golden Bears 3 sets to 1 (25-20, 22-25, 28-26, 25-17).  

And they did it connected location court at the Healthy Living Centre, in beforehand of a standing-room-only assemblage that exploded successful solemnisation erstwhile a Bears spike went wide on lucifer point.

"It's indescribable," caput manager Grant Wilson said pursuing the game. "Everything you dreamed of. It's crazy."

With that, the Bobcats finished their Canada West twelvemonth with an wide win-loss grounds of 13-12, portion the No. 3-ranked Golden Bears had a sparkling 21-6.

To get there, Brandon had to archetypal get done the quarterfinals against the No. 1 effect Winnipeg Wesmen (who adjacent retired the twelvemonth with a 23-4 record) and past the No. 5 Saskatchewan Huskies successful the semi-final.

"Super surreal feeling," said J.J. Love, who recorded 10 blocks, 40 assists and 7 digs successful the gold-medal game. "We've had the programme going for 20 years and we've ne'er got close, truthful this is truly awesome."

The Bobcats' rubric comes precisely 1 week aft the University of Manitoba Bisons women's volleyball squad was crowned nationalist champs connected their location court.

They defeated the Montreal Carabins 3-1 successful a best-of-five last to win their eighth U Sports title, but first successful 11 years.