Bobcats turn focus to 2016 nationals

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/02/2015 (3949 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon University Bobcats are represented at CIS nationals this week, but limited to spectator status only.

With BU’s women’s team set to host the 2016 CIS volleyball championship, Bobcat coaches and officials are scouting the men’s nationals in Saskatoon and women’s nationals in Toronto as they begin preparing to step into the national sports spotlight next year.

Still, BU athletic director Russ Paddock admits he’s disappointed to not be watching one of his two nationally ranked volleyball teams battling for a CIS title this week. While the ninth-ranked Bobcats women’s volleyball team had an up-and-down season at 13-11, the BU men’s squad was superb with a 19-5 regular-season record under coach Grant Wilson and was ranked fourth in the country heading into the Canada West final four.

Unfortunately, this year’s questionable qualifying system for men’s nationals left the Bobcats on the outside looking in, with Canada West limited to just three of the eight spots in the championship despite the conference sporting six of the top eight ranked teams in the country. BU’s bid for nationals ended when the fourth-ranked Bobcats fell to the third-ranked Trinity Western Spartans in the Canada West semifinals, leaving one of the top four teams in the country out of the mix.

“For sure, disappointed,” Paddock said from Saskatoon, where four unranked teams qualified for nationals this year, largely due to the conference quota system used to fill spots. “I haven’t coached the team the last few years, but the fifth-year guys are guys that I kind of brought here, so I was hoping they were going to get the opportunity (to play in nationals). And it’s even more frustrating seeing some of the teams here and where they are seeded. … Clearly us and a few other Canada West teams are better than some of the teams that made it.”

Indeed. Canada West is the elite conference in CIS, but only Alberta and Trinity Western are getting a chance to battle for the national title, along with the unranked Saskatchewan Huskies, who had an automatic berth as the host team.

With the Bobcats graduating all-Canadian Sebastien Steigmeier and Canada West all-star Sam Tuivai along with fifth-year middles Brendan White and Frank Jones, this was BU’s best chance to win a fourth medal at nationals and will be facing a bit of a rebuilding season in 2015-16.

As for BU’s women’s team, coach Lee Carter will have all-Canadian and three-time CIS libero of the year Donata Huebert back to anchor a squad that must replace graduating middle Meaghan Robertson and right side Tori Dakin, but should have everyone else returning, including team kills leader Shanlee McLennan, starting setter Mary Thomson and Canada West all-rookie team member Nikki Majewski. With the biggest season in team history ahead of them, Paddock believes the pieces are in place for the Bobcats to contend for a national title on home court.

“The women had an up-and-down season for sure, played well at times and showed they are not far from the elite teams, beating (No.1-ranked) Alberta in a match, beating (defending national silver medallist) UBC in a match,” Paddock said. “So certainly they have some pieces there to be competitive. And hosting next year, we will certainly have a chance to win.”

As for the Bobcats basketball programs, it was a rough season on campus as the BU women slipped from a 6-16 record in 2013-14 to 3-17 this season after the loss of CIS scoring leader Cassie Cooke, while BU’s once-mighty men’s program hit rock bottom by going 2-18.

However, Paddock believes BU women’s coach Novell Thomas has his young team on the right track.

“They are still a developing program and (Thomas) has worked exceptionally hard to build a foundation for that team, so I’m confident,” Paddock said.

“It may appear, in terms of wins and losses, maybe a little bit of a setback this year, but they are going to keep moving forward.”

Paddock also confirmed that Gil Cheung will be back as BU men’s basketball coach, despite failing to make the playoffs in each of his five seasons at the helm while posting an overall record of 25-83.

While it is far more difficult to qualify for the playoffs while facing the powerhouse teams in Canada West than in the old Great Plains conference, the Bobcats program has been in decline since winning its fourth national title in 1996 and posting an impressive 20-2 record in Canada West in 2007-08.

While the glory years of Bobcat basketball are long gone, Paddock remains confident that Cheung can return the program to respectability.

“I know he has some good recruits coming in next year and obviously he will be looking to improve on this season … and certainly Gil has the confidence of the group,” Paddock said.

“I have never heard anyone question his abilities. So he certainly is back next year and (BU is) looking forward to supporting and helping him rebound next season.”