Brandon University Athletics

The 2008-2009 Bobcat men's volleyball team reached new heights and cemented the programs status as a perennial contender in the process.
 
Brandon's success in 2008-09 came just four years after the Bobcats jumped to the Canada West conference in 2005-06 with former Olympian and Oak River, Man. product Russ Paddock coaching the team.
 
BU clinched home court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs after winning the final match of the regular season on the road against the UBC Thunderbirds.

The victory setup a rematch against the same T-Birds back at the BU Gym with a berth in the national championship on the line. The Bobcats swept the opening match of the best-of-3 series and followed that up with a dramatic five-set thriller over UBC. The final set was a marathon with Brandon emerging with a 24-22 victory. Paul Sanderson had 21 kills, Kevin Miller added 15 kills while Paul Robidoux and Joel Small chipped in with 14 kills apiece.

Brandon competed in the Canada West Final Four tournament prior to nationals. The Bobcats defeated arch rival the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in the semifinals to advance to the conference final for the first time where they lost to the Alberta Golden Bears. 

The Bobcats entered the national championship tournament in Edmonton as the fourth-seed. BU went the distance with the Dalhousie Tigers in the quarter-finals and prevailed in five sets. Brandon fell to the top-ranked Alberta Golden Bears in the semi-finals, but rebounded to win the bronze medal match. Paul Sanderson scored 29 kills to power the Bobcats past the McMaster Marauders in four sets for the program's first-ever national medal. Andrew Korol and Joel Small were named tournament all-stars, while the Bobcats also earned the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award for sportsmanship.
 
Paul Sanderson was recognized as Canada West all-star and a first-team all-Canadian, while Small was also named a conference all-star for his efforts during the regular season.