CIS Blackberry Top Ten
It marks the best-ever ranking for the two-time defending OUA champion Lancers, who reached the CIS final for the first time in program history last March against Simon Fraser. Windsor will host the national Final 8 this winter, from March 10 to 20.
The Lancers, who received 41 of 43 first-place votes in the inaugural coaches’ poll, were impressive in pre-season action posting a 7-0 overall record, including a 6-0 mark against CIS opponents. They swept Regina, Victoria and Alberta at the Panda Invitational in Edmonton from Oct. 8-10, before defeating Acadia, Saint Mary’s and UNB at the Don Grant Memorial Tournament in Moncton from Oct. 22-24.
Windsor kicks off OUA conference play this weekend with road games at York and Laurentian.
Rounding out the first women’s Top 10 of the campaign are No. 2 Victoria, No. 3 Regina, No. 4 Western Ontario, No. 5 UNB, No. 6 Saskatchewan, No. 7 Carleton, No. 8 Laval, No. 9 Cape Breton and No. 10 Acadia.
Victoria and Regina earned one first-place nod apiece.
In men’s hoops, Carleton, winner of six of the past eight W.P. McGee trophies as CIS champion, opens at No. 1 for the fifth consecutive year.
The Ravens, who lost in the national semifinals last March to eventual champion Saskatchewan, went 8-4 overall in the pre-season this fall including a perfect 7-0 mark versus CIS rivals. They beat McGill, Victoria and Windsor at their own House-Laughton Tournament from Oct. 15-17, before sweeping Saint Mary’s, UNB and host Laval at the Rouge et Or Tournament in Quebec City from Oct. 22-24.
Carleton, which opens conference play at home against Guelph and Brock this weekend, received 31 of 41 first-place votes and 468 points in the inaugural poll to finish ahead of the No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds, who earned the remaining 10 first-place nods and 439 points.
Rounding out the first Top 10 are No. 3 StFX, reigning national champion Saskatchewan at No. 4, No. 5 Concordia, No. 6 Western Ontario, No. 7 Laval, No. 8 Trinity Western, No. 9 Ottawa and No. 10 Victoria.
In other CIS rankings this week, Queen’s moves up two positions to No. 1 in the final women’s soccer poll, StFX remains at the top in the final men’s soccer Top 10, McGill (women) and Alberta (men) continue to dominate in hockey, Laval (women) and Alberta (men) still top the volleyball polls, and Guelph is once again No. 1 in both women’s and men’s cross country.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
1. Windsor
2. Victoria
3. Regina
4. Western Ontario
5. UNB
6. Saskatchewan
7. Carleton
8. Laval
9. Cape Breton
10. Acadia
MEN’S BASKETBALL
1. Carleton
2. UBC
3. StFX
4. Saskatchewan
5. Concordia
6. Western Ontario
7. Laval
8. Trinity Western
9. Ottawa
10. Victoria
Other teams receiving votes: Windsor (74), Dalhousie (72), Saint Mary’s (54), Lakehead (41).
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
1. Guelph
2. McMaster
3. Victoria
4. Calgary
5. Queen’s
6. Alberta
7. Windsor
8. McGill
9. Western Ontario
10. Dalhousie
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
1. Guelph
2. Windsor
3. Calgary
4. Victoria
5. Western Ontario
6. Regina
7. McMaster
8. Queen’s
9. Alberta
10. Dalhousie
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
1. McGill
2. Wilfrid Laurier
3. StFX
4. Alberta
5. Manitoba
6. Windsor
7. Guelph
8. Calgary
9. Montreal
10. Regina
Also receiving votes: Saskatchewan, Brock.
MEN’S HOCKEY
1. Alberta
2. McGill
3. UNB
4. Saint Mary’s
5. Western Ontario
6. StFX
7. Saskatchewan
8. Manitoba
9. Calgary
10. Carleton
Other teams receiving votes: UQTR (13), Wilfrid Laurier (11), Concordia (7), Lakehead (5), Acadia (4).
WOMEN’S SOCCER (final poll of season)
1. Queen’s
2. Montreal
3. McGill
4. Alberta
5. Wilfrid Laurier
6. Ottawa
7. UPEI
8. Trinity Western
9. Dalhousie
10. UBC
MEN’S SOCCER (final poll of season)
1. StFX
2. York
3. Alberta
4. Laval
5. Toronto
6. Western Ontario
7. UBC
8. Saint Mary’s
9. McGill
10. UQAM
Other teams receiving votes: Ryerson (4), Calgary (2).
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
1. Laval
2. Manitoba
3. Alberta
T4. Brandon
T4. Montreal
6. Trinity Western
7. Calgary
T8. UBC
T8. Winnipeg
T8. Saskatchewan
Also receiving votes (11th-15th): Guelph (24), StFX (15), Regina (12.5), Queen’s (10), Saint Mary’s (5).
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
1. Alberta
2. Laval
3. Trinity Western
4. Brandon
5. Calgary
6. Western Ontario
7. Manitoba
8. Dalhousie
9. Queen’s
10. UNB