BRANDON, MB – The Brandon University Bobcats Men's Volleyball team completed a powerful statement weekend by securing a second place finish in their annual pre-season tournament at the Healthy Living Centre. The Bobcats finished the four-day event with a strong overall 3-1 record, a testament to their readiness for the coming Canada West season.
In Sunday's championship final, the Bobcats faced their provincial rivals, the University of Manitoba Bisons, in a highly anticipated rematch following the five-set marathon just 24 hours earlier. While the Bisons ultimately claimed the tournament title with a 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-20, 25-22), the Bobcats demonstrated moments of exceptional play, especially in the competitive second and third sets.
The final was a valuable measuring stick for Head Coach Grant Wilson's squad, forcing the national champions to confront high-pressure situations against a well-prepared opponent. Despite the scoreline, the Bobcats showed impressive resolve, battling hard to close the margin in the final frames.
Next Stop: International Competition in Puerto Rico
The focus for the Bobcats now shifts to an extraordinary opportunity: international competition. The team has been selected by Volleyball Canada to represent the country at the NORCECA Final Six tournament in Puerto Rico in October. This honour is traditionally extended to the top-finishing U SPORTS team when Canada's National Team players are unavailable, allowing the Bobcats to temporarily trade their blue and gold for the Maple Leaf.
This is an unparalleled chance for the Brandon program to elevate its game on the global stage. Outside hitter Liam Kindle, who is returning for his final year, spoke about the profound opportunity. "Getting to represent your country in any context is an honour and to do it doing the thing we love doing and the thing that brings us together is really special," Kindle said. "We're wearing that flag on our jersey and that's an honour."
The trip will be an important step for many players, but Setter Kale Fisher has prior experience, having been named the best setter at the NORCECA continental championship with the U-21 national team last summer. His message to his teammates is simple: "Just enjoy it. It's a pretty cool experience getting to see that jersey for the first time with your name on the back of it. It's pretty special so just enjoy the moment and soak it in."
While the roster for the tournament will look slightly different—with import veteran Sam Chen, and new players Jobe McAuley and Cooper Bevan ineligible—Coach Wilson sees the tough competition as beneficial. "We know we're going to be in tough in terms of the competition but that's OK," Wilson said. "It's just another opportunity for us to get better and learn and grow as a group and start to build towards what we want to do next year."
The entire Bobcat community is incredibly proud of the men's team's performance this weekend and looks forward to supporting them as they embark on this remarkable international venture. Their pre-season success, coupled with the upcoming tour, positions them perfectly for another memorable season.
