The host Brandon University Bobcats will face a familiar foe to open the 2025 U SPORTS Men's Volleyball Championship presented by Sunrise Credit Union.
BU's highly anticipated national quarter-final on March 21 will be against the top-ranked Winnipeg Wesmen with first serve at 6 p.m. at the Healthy Living Centre.
The Wesmen are coming off capturing the program's first-ever Canada West title after defeating the Alberta Golden Bears in the final.
Winnipeg earned home court advantage throughout the conference playoffs after finishing with a first-place record of 17-3.
Brandon was eliminated in the conference quarter-finals and posted a mark of 10-10 during the regular season.
The Bobcats split their two-game series against the Wesmen in early February.
Luke Lodewyks had 14 kills in Winnipeg's sweep before second-team conference all-star Philipp Lauter had a monster 12 block performance as the Bobcats prevailed in four sets in the rematch.
The defending U SPORTS champion Alberta Golden Bears and Saskatchewan Huskies are also representing Canada West while the other teams vying for the crown include the Queen's Gaels, Windsor Lancers, Western Mustangs and Sherbrooke Vert et Or.
The quarterfinals will be played on Friday, March 21, as follows: (all times Central)
- Noon: No. 7 Western vs. No. 2 Sherbrooke
- 2 p.m.: No. 6 Windsor vs. No. 3 Alberta
- 6 p.m.: No. 1 Winnipeg at No. 8 Brandon
- 8 p.m.: No. 5 Saskatchewan at No. 4 Queen's
Consolation games will take place on Saturday, March 22 at noon and 2 p.m., with the semifinals set for 6 and 8 p.m. On Sunday, the fifth-place game is set for 1 p.m., with the bronze medal game following at 3 p.m. and the championship game at 6 p.m.
All 11 matches from the event will be broadcast live on WCGtv for Westman Communications Group cable subscribers and streamed on CBC Sports digital platforms in English. In French, the games will be carried on Radio Canada's digital platforms.
