How Will COVID-19 Suspensions Impact the U SPORTS Top Ten Teams?

This past semester, U SPORTS teams competed in what was a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated return to their regular season schedule for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Following the announcement that U SPORTS teams would be allowed to compete this 2021-2022 season, teams have re-adjusted back to the typical schedule of a university athlete which sees back-to-back matches, stands full of fans, and travel for away games.

After an exciting first semester full of hard-fought matches on both the men’s and women’s circuits, let’s take a look at which teams have earned their ranking on the Top Ten U SPORTS list going into the holidays.

Entering second semester with a spot on the list inspires even more motivation to maintain a ranking and remain a Top Ten U SPORTS contender.

However, recent COVID-19 measures have forced some university athletics to pause which has led to the cancellation of holiday exhibitions, scrimmages, and practices.

While the decision to pause athletics was a necessary precaution, its impact on U SPORTS teams is significant. Teams who have earned their ranking on the U SPORTS Top Ten list may be impacted disproportionately.

“It will be interesting to see how this all pans out because as of now we are the only conference with these restrictions, so we will be facing quite a disadvantage to some of the other Top 10 programs who will be able to continue training and competing in the coming weeks,” said head coach, Melissa Bartlett, of the no.7 ranked Western Mustangs women’s team.

The OUA is, as of now, the only conference with restrictions expected to last until January 24^th.

However, both the RSEQ and the AUS, home to women’s Top Ten teams UQAM no.6, Dalhousie no.8, Saint Mary’s no.9, Sherbrooke no.10 and men’s Top Ten teams Montreal no.4, Laval no.7 and Sherbrooke no.9, have also announced a pause.

On December 22^nd, the RSEQ announced a suspension to all sports and extracurricular activities until January 9^th. Consecutively, the AUS announced a pause to all university sport until at least January 19^th.

The impact of the announced suspensions for the three conferences is twofold. First, it calls in to question how each team will adjust their plans and schedules to proceed in the new year. Second, it amplifies Bartlett’s concerns about how restrictions may impact teams disproportionately when it comes to rankings.

The opportunity to get back on court may come sooner for certain conferences, creating a disparity in the U SPORTS Top Ten ranking.

While it seems some Top Ten teams were still able to compete over the holidays with no.2 Alberta travelling to take on no.1 Trinity Western and UBC, the remainder of the season heading into the new year is undetermined.

The volleyball community is holding their breath in anticipation of an announcement from the CanWest conference.

The cancellation of The Volleyball Showcase held in B.C, may cause the conference to follow suit and apply some restrictions in the wake of the current COVID-19 surge.

On the men’s circuit, no. 1 Trinity Western, no.2 Alberta and no.7 Laval were all set to participate in the event.

When asked about the cancelation, event organizer Elie Shermer said, “We were really looking forward to giving the volleyball fans around BC Canada . . . a great experience with four amazing university programs. Either way we are excited for what 2022 has to offer when it comes to more great volleyball events for fans.”

As new information regarding the current COVID-19 surge becomes available, it will be interesting to see how the U SPORTS Top Ten teams handle their conferences’ respective restrictions and ultimately what impact this will have on their season.