MCAC volleyball, basketball seasons wrapping up
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While Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League and other hockey fans eagerly anticipate the start of playoff hockey this week, Providence College’s basketball and volleyball teams are about to hit the end of their regular season too.
This weekend marks the final games for the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference schedule for both sports, with a massive home schedule this weekend.
The Pilots will be honouring graduating seniors before games at the Niverville Resource and Rec Centre Feb. 8. All four teams across the two sports will be in action, starting at noon and ending when a men’s basketball game against Canadian Mennonite University finishes late in the evening.
In volleyball, both the men’s and women’s teams have locked up the top spot in the standings, which holds much more weight this season. Finishing first means home court advantage and an automatic berth in the now best-of-three MCAC championship, while the second and third place teams play a one-match semi-final.
The Providence women aren’t coming into the final with as much pressure as last year. Last season they were undefeated in league play before a shocking upset at the hands of CMU ended their season inside their home gym in the final.
They’ve run away with the conference again in the regular season this year, but have lost twice this season.
For the men’s team, the MCAC season has been good for a team looking to enter nationals on a high. They’re 13-1 with a spot at the Canadian College Athletic Association national championships already locked up thanks to an automatic host berth.
In men’s basketball, it seems like CMU has Providence’s number, picking up a pair of victories over the Pilots this year, but before any Manitoba championships are played both schools will be in the States to play in the Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships Feb. 21.
The Pilots have a 9-5 record in the NIAC standings, good for fourth just behind Providence.
In women’s basketball, the team’s innovative hockey-style system has them leading both the MCAC and NIAC regular season standings once again. Last year, Providence swept both championships.
Basketball teams will play in the MCAC championships in late-February, while the National Christian Colleges Athletic Association regionals go in Iowa in early March.