# U Sports men's volleyball championship

The U Sports Men's Volleyball Championship is a Canadian university volleyball tournament conducted by U Sports, and determines the men's national champion. The tournament involves the champions from each of Canada's four regional sports conferences. The Tantramar Trophy is awarded to the winners.
The 2024 champions are the Alberta Golden Bears, who have won ten championships in program history. The Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg Wesmen and Alberta Golden Bears have won the most championships with each school having won ten times.

## History

The first championship tournament was held in Calgary, Alberta and featured the UBC Thunderbirds defeating the Mount Allison Mounties 3–0 and the Sherbrooke Vert et Or 3–0 en route to being the first CIAU men's volleyball champions. They were given the Tantramar Trophy, named after the Tantramar Marshes in New Brunswick, which was donated in 1967 by Mount Allison University. While early records are not readily available, the championship has been played as a round-robin tournament at least since 1980. In 1983, six teams played in two pools and then, based on the results, advanced to single-elimination games to determine a winner. In 1985, the current format of full single-elimination games was adopted with eight team competing in the tournament.
Both the 2020 and 2021 championship tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Format

The championship currently consists of an eight-team tournament, with champions from each of the three conferences, one host (from Canada West in 2020 and 2021), an additional Canada West team, two additional OUA teams, and one additional team from the RSEQ. While the berths for the conference champions and host remain consistent year-to-year, the other four invitees can change based on the host's conference and the competitive landscape in U Sports. The championship takes place over three days and features 11 games, with teams seeded 1–8. Teams are ranked by a committee as well as by the ELO ranking used to determine weekly Top 10 rankings nationally. Conference champions can be ranked no lower than 6th place. The team ranked 1st plays the 8th ranked team, 2nd plays 7th, 3rd plays 6th, and 4th plays 5th in the quarter-finals. To ensure common rest times, teams are not re-seeded after the first round, so the winner of 1v8 plays the winner of 4v5 and the winner of 2v7 plays the winner of 3v6. There is also a consolation bracket to determine the third-place winner (bronze medalist) and fifth-place winner. The gold medal game is the last game played in the tournament.

## Results
### Round Robin Format (1967–1982)

| Year | Host (City) | Championship final | Championship final | Championship final | Teams |
| Year | Host (City) | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Teams |
| 1967 | Calgary (Calgary, AB) | UBC Thunderbirds | 3–0 | Sherbrooke Vert et Or | 4 |
| 1968 | Guelph (Guelph, ON) | Ottawa Gee-Gees | 2–0 | Manitoba Bisons | 5 |
| 1969 | Mount Allison (Sackville, NB) | Winnipeg Wesmen | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1970 | Calgary (Calgary, AB) | Montreal Carabins | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1971 | Laurentian (Sudbury, ON) | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–0 | Western Ontario Mustangs | N/A |
| 1972 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–0 | Montreal Carabins | N/A |
| 1973 | Laurentian (Sudbury, ON) | Winnipeg Wesmen | N/A | Laurentian Voyageurs | N/A |
| 1974 | Alberta (Edmonton, AB) | Winnipeg Wesmen | N/A | York Yeomen | N/A |
| 1975 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Sherbrooke Vert et Or | 3–0 | Alberta Golden Bears | N/A |
| 1976 | Manitoba/Winnipeg (Winnipeg, MB) | UBC Thunderbirds | 3–1 | Sherbrooke Vert et Or | 6 |
| 1977 | Waterloo (Waterloo, ON) | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–0 | UBC Thunderbirds | 6 |
| 1978 | Moncton (Moncton, NB) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–0 | Calgary Dinosaurs | N/A |
| 1979 | McMaster (Hamilton, ON) | Saskatchewan Huskies | 3–2 | Manitoba Bisons | N/A |
| 1980 | Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, SK) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–1 | Saskatchewan Huskies | 6 |
| 1981 | Victoria (Victoria, BC) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–2 | Manitoba Bisons | 6 |
| 1982 | Dalhousie (Halifax, NS) | Calgary Dinosaurs | 3–1 | Manitoba Bisons | 6 |

### Transition Format (1983–1984)

| Year | Host (City) | Gold medal match | Gold medal match | Gold medal match | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match | Teams |
| Year | Host (City) | Gold medalists | Score | Silver medalists | Bronze medalists | Score | 4th place | Teams |
| 1983 | British Columbia (Vancouver, BC) | UBC Thunderbirds | 3–1 | Manitoba Bisons | Laval Rouge et Or | 3–1 | Victoria Vikings | 6 |
| 1984 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–0 | UBC Thunderbirds | Waterloo Warriors | 3–0 | Dalhousie Tigers | 6 |

### Single Elimination Format (1985–present)

| Year | Host (City) | Gold medal match | Gold medal match | Gold medal match | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match | Teams |
| Year | Host (City) | Gold medalists | Score | Silver medalists | Bronze medalists | Score | 4th place | Teams |
| 1985 | York (North York, ON) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–0 | Saskatchewan Huskies | Toronto Varsity Blues | 3–0 | Dalhousie Tigers | 8 |
| 1986 | Moncton (Moncton, NB) | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–2 | Manitoba Bisons | Saskatchewan Huskies | 3–1 | UBC Thunderbirds | 8 |
| 1987 | Winnipeg (Winnipeg, MB) | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–0 | Saskatchewan Huskies | Manitoba Bisons | 3–2 | Calgary Dinosaurs | 8 |
| 1988 | Guelph (Guelph, ON) | Saskatchewan Huskies | 3–1 | Manitoba Bisons | Calgary Dinosaurs | 3–0 | Dalhousie Tigers | 8 |
| 1989 | Calgary (Calgary, AB) | Calgary Dinosaurs | 3–0 | Manitoba Bisons | York Yeomen | 3–0 | Waterloo Warriors | 8 |
| 1990 | Winnipeg (Winnipeg, MB) | Laval Rouge et Or | 3–0 | Manitoba Bisons | Waterloo Warriors | 3–0 | Saskatchewan Huskies | 8 |
| 1991 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–0 | Toronto Varsity Blues | Waterloo Warriors | 3–2 | Sherbrooke Vert et Or | 8 |
| 1992 | Winnipeg (Winnipeg, MB) | Laval Rouge et Or | 3–0 | Calgary Dinosaurs | Montreal Carabins | 3–1 | Winnipeg Wesmen | 8 |
| 1993 | Alberta (Edmonton, AB) | Calgary Dinosaurs | 3–0 | Montreal Carabins | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–0 | Manitoba Bisons | 8 |
| 1994 | Dalhousie (Halifax, NS) | Laval Rouge et Or | 3–0 | Manitoba Bisons | Dalhousie Tigers | 3–2 | Alberta Golden Bears | 8 |
| 1995 | Laurentian (Sudbury, ON) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–2 | Laval Rouge et Or | Dalhousie Tigers | 3–2 | Alberta Golden Bears | 8 |
| 1996 | Calgary (Calgary, AB) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–1 | Alberta Golden Bears | Laval Rouge et Or | 3–1 | Winnipeg Wesmen | 8 |
| 1997 | Calgary (Calgary, AB) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–0 | Dalhousie Tigers | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–1 | Calgary Dinosaurs | 8 |
| 1998 | Calgary (Calgary, AB) | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–0 | Saskatchewan Huskies | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–1 | Toronto Varsity Blues | 8 |
| 1999 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Saskatchewan Huskies | 3–0 | Laval Rouge et Or | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–2 | Calgary Dinos | 8 |
| 2000 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–1 | Saskatchewan Huskies | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–0 | Dalhousie Tigers | 8 |
| 2001 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–1 | Laval Rouge et Or | Calgary Dinos | 3–0 | Saskatchewan Huskies | 8 |
| 2002 | Alberta (Edmonton, AB) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–2 | Winnipeg Wesmen | Manitoba Bisons | 3–0 | Laval Rouge et Or | 8 |
| 2003 | Alberta (Edmonton, AB) | Manitoba Bisons | 3–0 | Alberta Golden Bears | Saskatchewan Huskies | 3–2 | Calgary Dinos | 8 |
| 2004 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Saskatchewan Huskies | 3–2 | Alberta Golden Bears | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–1 | Manitoba Bisons | 8 |
| 2005 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–2 | Trinity Western Spartans | Manitoba Bisons | 3–2 | Saskatchewan Huskies | 8 |
| 2006 | McMaster (Hamilton, ON) | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–0 | Alberta Golden Bears | Manitoba Bisons | 3–1 | Dalhousie Tigers | 8 |
| 2007 | McMaster (Hamilton, ON) | Winnipeg Wesmen | 3–2 | Alberta Golden Bears | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–0 | UBC Thunderbirds | 8 |
| 2008 | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–1 | Winnipeg Wesmen | TRU WolfPack | 3–2 | Dalhousie Tigers | 8 |
| 2009 | Alberta (Edmonton, AB) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–0 | Laval Rouge et Or | Brandon Bobcats | 3–1 | McMaster Marauders | 8 |
| 2010 Details | Thompson Rivers (Kamloops, BC) | Calgary Dinos | 3–1 | Trinity Western Spartans | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–0 | Laval Rouge et Or | 8 |
| 2011 Details | Trinity Western (Langley, BC) | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–0 | Brandon Bobcats | Calgary Dinos | 3–2 | Laval Rouge et Or | 8 |
| 2012 Details | Queen's (Kingston, ON) | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–1 | Laval Rouge et Or | Manitoba Bisons | 3–1 | Queen's Gaels | 8 |
| 2013 Details | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Laval Rouge et Or | 3–1 | McMaster Marauders | Brandon Bobcats | 3–1 | Western Mustangs | 8 |
| 2014 Details | Calgary (Calgary, AB) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–0 | Western Mustangs | McMaster Marauders | 3–0 | Laval Rouge et Or | 8 |
| 2015 Details | Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, SK) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–0 | Trinity Western Spartans | McMaster Marauders | 3–0 | Dalhousie Tigers | 8 |
| 2016 Details | McMaster (Hamilton, ON) | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–1 | McMaster Marauders | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–0 | Saskatchewan Huskies | 8 |
| 2017 Details | Alberta (Edmonton, AB) | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–1 | Alberta Golden Bears | McMaster Marauders | 3–0 | UBC Thunderbirds | 8 |
| 2018 Details | McMaster (Hamilton, ON) | UBC Thunderbirds | 3–0 | Trinity Western Spartans | McMaster Marauders | 3–0 | Alberta Golden Bears | 8 |
| 2019 Details | Laval (Quebec City, QC) | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–0 | Brandon Bobcats | Laval Rouge et Or | 3–1 | Alberta Golden Bears | 8 |
| 2020 Details | Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB) | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 8 |
| 2021 Details | Brandon (Brandon, MB) | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 8 |
| 2022 Details | Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–1 | Trinity Western Spartans | Sherbrooke Vert et Or | 3–1 | Calgary Dinos | 8 |
| 2023 Details | McMaster (Hamilton, ON) | Trinity Western Spartans | 3–0 | Sherbrooke Vert et Or | McMaster Marauders | 3–0 | Alberta Golden Bears | 8 |
| 2024 Details | Queen's (Kingston, ON) | Alberta Golden Bears | 3–2 | Sherbrooke Vert et Or | UBC Thunderbirds | 3–1 | Queen's Gaels | 8 |
| 2025 Details | Brandon (Brandon, MB) | | | | | | | 8 |
| 2026 Details | Windsor (Windsor, ON) | | | | | | | 8 |
| 2027 Details | Mount Royal (Calgary, AB) | | | | | | | 8 |
| 2028 Details | Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, SK) | | | | | | | 8 |

## Results by schools

Due to information limitations, the following table includes all known first, second, and third-place finishes, as indicated above. Prior to 1983, there were no third-place finishes, and the second-place finish was the loser of the championship game. While the Dalhousie Tigers now play in the RSEQ, they had won their medals while playing in the AUS conference, which no longer fields men's volleyball teams.
| Team | Conference | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Last |
| Manitoba Bisons | Canada West | 10 | 10 | 5 | 2003 |
| Alberta Golden Bears | Canada West | 10 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Winnipeg Wesmen | Canada West | 10 | 2 | 3 | 2007 |
| Trinity Western Spartans | Canada West | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2023 |
| Laval Rouge et Or | RSEQ | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2013 |
| Saskatchewan Huskies | Canada West | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2004 |
| Calgary Dinos | Canada West | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2010 |
| UBC Thunderbirds | Canada West | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2018 |
| Sherbrooke Vert et Or | RSEQ | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1975 |
| Montreal Carabins | RSEQ | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1970 |
| Ottawa Gee-Gees | RSEQ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1968 |
| McMaster Marauders | OUA | 0 | 2 | 5 | None |
| Brandon Bobcats | Canada West | 0 | 2 | 2 | None |
| Western Mustangs | OUA | 0 | 2 | 0 | None |
| Dalhousie Tigers | AUS | 0 | 1 | 2 | None |
| York Yeomen | OUA | 0 | 1 | 1 | None |
| Toronto Varsity Blues | OUA | 0 | 1 | 1 | None |
| Waterloo Warriors | OUA | 0 | 0 | 3 | None |
| Laurentian Voyageurs | OUA | 0 | 0 | 1 | None |
| TRU WolfPack | Canada West | 0 | 0 | 1 | None |