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Trinity Western University’s Spartans captured their second straight U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship tonight, defeating the host Alberta Golden Bears 3-1, Sunday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
The 2017 U SPORTS FOG men’s volleyball championship win by Trinity Western gives their men’s volleyball program five Tantramar Trophies in their history.
This is also the second time the Spartans have won back-to-back national titles, with the others coming in 2011 and 2012, explained TWU coach Ben Josephson.
And your @USPORTS_VBall champs are the @TWUSpartans! Thrilling win over the host @BearsandPandas to claim gold #CHAMPSZN pic.twitter.com/2blkp0jjnW
— Canada West (@CanadaWest) March 20, 2017
“Whenever we play the Bears at this time of the season, it always turns into one of these classics. Two really great volleyball teams putting on a show,” Josephson said.
“I’m just so proud of our kids for dealing with that environment and we have these great leaders on our team that pushed through,” he added.
“In games like this, it has nothing to do with volleyball, because both teams are great at this point. It has everything to do with how much you can care for the guys beside you, and make them better. It is a great showcase of volleyball in U SPORTS. I’m just proud to have been a part of that match.”
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Fifth-year Spartan, and 2017 U SPORTS men’s volleyball player of the year Ryan Sclater (Port Coquitlam) finished his career with a 12-kill performance, adding eight digs and five block assists.
“I’m just so grateful to be a part of this team. It’s going to be hard to leave these guys behind,” said Sclater.
“That’s the thing I love the most, just playing every day with my best friends. I’m just really grateful I could be a part of this. I’m proud of how we fought back, how we found ways to get through and win when it wasn’t easy.”
Fourth-year Spartan Blake Scheerhoorn (Belleville, Ont.) finished with a game-high 22 kills on 43 attempts, committing only three attacking errors, earning the Player of the Match.
Double double to celebrate the double champs. Congrats @TWUSpartans men’s volleyball pic.twitter.com/p2R9Ys3TYt
— Mike Shearon (@mshearon) March 20, 2017
Spartan setter Adam Schriemer (Winnipeg) led the Spartans offence with 48 assists on Sunday, earning the 2017 U SPORTS FOG Men’s Volleyball Championship MVP.
Fifth-year middle Taylor Arnett led Alberta with 16 kills in his final U SPORTS game, adding two total blocks. Fellow graduating student-athlete Brett Walsh also chipped in 48 assists, eight digs and an ace.
For the first time in the program’s history, the Spartans men’s volleyball team has now earned four straight championship banners, including both the Canada West and U SPORTS championships in both 2016 and 2017.
Along the way, TWU has won 14 playoff games in a row.
Congrats boyz! # goldenboys https://t.co/qpMiNcREoM
— Katelynn Ramage (@kaelra) March 20, 2017
In each of TWU’s last three championship-winning games, the Spartans have knocked off the home side to win it all, including the 2016 national championship when they beat McMaster, the 2017 conference championship when they beat Manitoba and Sunday’s win over Alberta.
The Spartans have won four of the last seven national championships and have played in six of the past eight U SPORTS gold medal matches.
Beating Alberta evened TWU’s all-time U SPORTS championship record against the Golden Bears at 4-4.
Congrats to @TWUSpartans Mens Volleyball on winning back to back National Titles
