2025-26 schedule: Griffins kick off campaign in Calgary, host TRU in home opener Oct. 24

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – The Griffins men’s volleyball team will have a chance to get the 2025-26 season off to a solid start as they face just one U SPORTS top 10 squad from last year out of five first semester weekends.

MacEwan will kick off the campaign Oct. 17-18 in Calgary against a Dinos team that was 9-11 in 2024-25 before returning for their home opener Oct. 24-25 vs. a Thompson Rivers squad coming off a 6-14 campaign.

Saskatchewan (ranked sixth in the final U SPORTS top 10 of 2024-25) after winning both the U SPORTS and Canada West bronze medal will be the biggest early test as the Griffins host the Huskies Nov. 28-29 – the former being the program’s second-annual ‘School Day’ match.

SEE THE GRIFFINS’ FULL SCHEDULE HERE

“We’re really excited for the upcoming season and the challenges of competing in the top volleyball conference in Canada,” said Griffins head coach Brad Poplawski. “Our team has been working hard in the off-season to prepare, and we’re ready to compete at the highest level. 

“Every weekend is such a battle, and each match is a chance to grow, and we’re eager to see what this group can accomplish.”

The flip side is the Griffins have a gauntlet to run in the second semester, highlighted by matches against defending Canada West champion Winnipeg Jan. 9-10, 2024-25 U SPORTS No. 5 UBC Jan. 16-17, defending U SPORTS national champion Brandon Jan. 30-31 and 2024-25 U SPORTS (and Canada West) silver medalist Alberta Feb. 13-14.

The Griffins will need to finish among the top 10 teams in the conference to make the post-season, which begins with best-of-three Play-In series Feb. 20-22.

Quarter-final matchups go Feb. 27 to March 1 with the Canada West Final Four scheduled for March 6-7.

The U SPORTS national championship runs March 13-15 at the University of Windsor.