CIS TOP 10 TUESDAY (#20): Four McGill teams ranked in CIS poll
OTTAWA (CIS) - McGill's record-setting women's hockey team is among a number of powerhouses who hold on to their No. 1 positions in the first CIS national rankings of the new year. The Martlets are one of four McGill squads in this week's Top 10 poll, joined by the hockey Redmen (5th), the men's track & field team (5th) and the volleyball Martlets (10th).
Women's hockey
The two-time defending national champion Martlets racked up five more victories since the final Top 10 of the fall semester on December 5 to extend their overall win streak against CIS opponents to 72 games, dating back to December of 2007. The previous all-time mark of 67 straight wins had been set by the Alberta Pandas between 2003 and 2005.
The Martlets went 3-0 at Concordia's annual Theresa Humes Tournament over the Christmas break defeating Toronto 4-1, Guelph 8-1 and No. 4 Manitoba 4-2, before resuming QSSF conference play this past weekend with a 4-2 win over Ottawa and a 3-0 shutout of Concordia. McGill enjoys a break in the QSSF schedule this week and is set to resume regular season play at Ottawa on January 17.
Men's hockey
The reigning University Cup champion UNB Varsity Reds improved to 17-0 in conference play over the weekend with a 4-3 win over cross-town rival St. Thomas and a 5-3 defeat of UPEI. The V-Reds, who are on pace to improve on their AUS-record 26-1-1 mark from 2007-08, face one of their toughest weekends of the campaign as they are set to visit No. 7 Saint Mary's (10-3-4) on Friday and No. 4 Acadia (12-3-1) on Saturday.
UNB, which captured the Pete Kelly Cup title over the holidays with wins over Toronto and Moncton, shows a remarkable 27-1 overall mark in 2009-2010 including a 24-0 record versus CIS rivals and 3-0 against NCAA teams. The V-Reds' lone loss of the season is a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the AHL's Portland Pirates back on September 30.
Women's basketball
The defending national champion Simon Fraser Clan (10-0) resumed Canada West play over the weekend with a pair of key road wins over No. 8 Alberta, 76-65, and No. 3 Saskatchewan, 67-58.
The Clan, who claimed the Reebok-Concordia Tournament title over the Christmas break thanks to victories over Ottawa, McGill and Concordia, put their school-record 48-game win streak on the line Saturday when they host Trinity Western (2-8).
Men's basketball
Last year's CIS finalists, the UBC Thunderbirds are now 9-0 in conference play following a 97-70 win over Regina and a 92-46 domination of Brandon. The T-Birds, who are 12-0 overall against CIS opponents this season, host Fraser Valley (6-4) for a pair Friday and Saturday.
Women's volleyball
The two-time reigning CIS champion UBC Thunderbirds improved to 11-0 in conference play last weekend with a two-game sweep of No. 6 Regina (6-4), 3-2 and 3-1. The T-Birds will be tested again this week as they play a doubleheader at No. 9 Brandon (8-2).
Men's volleyball
The 2008-09 national finalist Laval Rouge et Or (9-0) resume QSSF play this coming weekend when they host McGill (1-8) on Friday and Montreal (5-4) on Saturday. The Rouge et Or claimed the York Tournament title over the break, including a four-set defeat of No. 7 Brandon in the preliminary round.
Track & Field
The only changes atop CIS national rankings this week are in track and field where Saskatchewan moves up from fifth place to take the No. 1 spot away from Western Ontario on the women's side, while Guelph improves one position to dethrone Ottawa in the men's Top 10.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
(regular season record) / (votes - first-place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. Simon Fraser (10-0) / 492 points (41) / (1)
2. Windsor (10-0) / 450 / (2)
3. Saskatchewan (6-4) / 382 / (5)
4. Regina (8-2) / 373 /(3)
5. Cape Breton (9-0) / 331 / (6)
6. Laval (5-1) / 271 / (4)
7. Victoria (5-4) / 216 / (7)
8. Alberta (7-5) / 191 / (8)
T9. Memorial (6-2) / 170 / (9)
T9. UBC (7-3) / 170 / (10)
Other teams receiving votes: Western Ontario (77), Brock (23),
Carleton (12), Bishop's (11), Calgary (11).
MEN'S BASKETBALL
(regular season record) / (votes - first-place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. UBC (9-0) / 492 points (41) / (1)
2. Carleton (9-1) / 451 / (2)
3. StFX (7-0) / 389 / (3)
4. Calgary (9-2) / 363 / (4)
5. Cape Breton (6-1) / 330 / (5)
6. Lakehead (9-1) / 256 / (10)
7. Windsor (8-2) / 255 / (7)
8. Dalhousie (5-3) / 132 / (9)
9. Ottawa (8-2) / 122 / (NR)
10. Toronto (6-4) / 116 / (8)
Other teams receiving votes: McMaster (108), Saint Mary's (51),
Simon Fraser (41), Trinity Western (35), Saskatchewan (12).
WOMEN'S HOCKEY
(regular season record) / (previous rankings)
1. McGill (12-0-0) / (1)
2. Wilfrid Laurier (17-0-0) / (2)
3. Alberta (16-0-0) / (3)
4. Manitoba (12-2-0) / (4)
5. Moncton (10-2-1) / (6)
6. StFX (10-2-2) / (5)
7. Queen's (13-3-1) / (7)
8. Montreal (9-2-1) / (8)
9. York (11-5-1) / (NR)
10. Saskatchewan (8-3-3) / (9)
MEN'S HOCKEY
(regular season record) / (votes - first place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. UNB (17-0-0) / 160 points (16) / (1)
2. Alberta (16-1-1) / 142 / (2)
3. Western Ontario (16-2-0) / 126 / (3)
4. Acadia (12-3-1) / 103 / (4)
5. McGill (14-2-0) / 100 / (5)
6. UQTR (14-2-1) / 71 / (6)
7. Saint Mary's (10-3-4) / 58 / (8)
8. Manitoba (10-4-2) / 40 / (7)
9. Wilfrid Laurier (13-4-2) / 37 / (9)
10. Saskatchewan (9-6-1) / 15 / (NR) - x
x- Saskatchewan was awarded the higher ranking (over Waterloo) based on number of higher-placed votes.
Other teams receiving votes: Waterloo (15) - x, Lakehead (8), StFX (4), Carleton (1).
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
(regular season record) / (votes) / (previous rankings)
1. UBC (11-0) / 60 points / (1)
2. Manitoba (9-2) / 54 / (3)
3. Montreal (13-0) / 52 / (2)
T4. Alberta (11-3) / 46 / (5)
T4. Trinity Western (6-6) / 46 / (6)
6. Regina (6-4) / 42 / (4)
7. Laval (10-3) / 34.5 / (8)
8. Calgary (6-6) / 30 / (T9)
9. Brandon (8-2) / 29 / (7)
10. McGill (11-3) / 25.5 / (T9)
Next highest votes (11th-15th): McMaster (19), Saint Mary's (15), Waterloo (7), Sherbrooke (6), UNB (4).
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
(regular season record) / (votes) / (previous rankings)
1. Laval (9-0) / 247.5 points / (1)
2. Calgary (8-2) / 203.5 / (2)
3. Dalhousie (7-1) / 203 / (5)
T4. Alberta (9-3) / 144 / (4)
T4. Trinity Western (6-4) / 144 / (6)
6. McMaster (8-2) / 137 / (3)
7. Brandon (5-3) / 103.5 / (8)
8. Manitoba (5-6) / 58.5 / (7)
9. Thompson Rivers (6-6) / 53.5 / (NR)
10. Winnipeg (4-5) / 44.5 / (9)
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
(points) / (previous rankings)
1. Saskatchewan 118.71 points / (5)
2. Guelph 62.36 / (6)
3. Windsor 52.5 / (3)
4. Toronto 50.86 / (8)
5. York 46.5 / (10)
6. Ottawa 44.0 / (2)
T7. Western Ontario 41.86 / (1)
T7. Regina 41.86 / (7)
9. Manitoba 30.86 / (4)
10. Calgary 26.5 / (NR)
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
(points) / (previous rankings)
1. Guelph 94.83 points / (2)
2. Ottawa 84.5 / (1)
5. Saskatchewan 81.0 / (7)
4. Western Ontario 48.5 / (4)
5. McGill 41.0 / (3)
T6. Regina 36.0 / (6)
T6. York 36.0 / (8)
8. Windsor 34.5 / (5)
9. Sherbrooke 28.33 / (NR)
10. Laval 22.0 / (10)
-CIS-
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belanger [at] universitysport.ca