CIS Top Ten Tuesday (#23): Four McGill squads ranked nationally
OTTAWA (CIS) - Four McGill teams find themselves in the CIS Top 10 rankings this week, including the top-ranked hockey Martlets, the No.6-hockey Redmen, the No. 10 volleyball Martlets and the No.10 Redmen track team.
Men's basketball
The reigning national champion Carleton Ravens are back at the top of the CIS men's basketball rankings following a three-win week, including a 74-66 victory over No. 6 Ottawa at the fourth annual Capital Hoops Classic.The Ravens (16-1), winners of six of the last seven W.P. McGee trophies as CIS champions, return to No. 1 after receiving 36 of 42 first-place votes in the coaches' poll. Last year's national finalists, the UBC Thunderbirds (14-1), received the remaining first-place nods but drop back to No. 2 after holding the pole position for four weeks.
Carleton had led the first four rankings of the season before suffering a 76-73 loss to Lakehead on November 27 that allowed UBC to move to first place.
The Ravens, who hold a two-game lead over No. 6 Ottawa (14-3) in the OUA East, extended their conference winning streak to 10 straight matches over the past week defeating the Gee-Gees 74-66, Toronto (7-9) 75-53 and Ryerson (6-10) 78-70. The defending champs hit the road this weekend to face York (3-13) and Laurentian (6-10).
Meanwhile, the T-Birds, who have a two-game advantage over No. 7 Simon Fraser (12-3) in the Canada West Pacific, suffered their first conference loss of the campaign last week as they split a doubleheader with the Clan. SFU took the series opener 82-79 on Thursday, while UBC rebounded with a 77-68 win on Saturday.
The T-Birds host Victoria (8-7) for a pair this weekend.
With UBC's loss to SFU, No. 3 St. Francis Xavier (13-0) is the only undefeated team in CIS men's basketball. The X-Men host No. 10 Dalhousie (9-5) on Sunday for their lone duel of the coming weekend.
Women's basketball
The reigning national champion Simon Fraser Clan (14-0) lead the Top 10 for the ninth time in as many coaches' polls this season following a 81-68 victory over No. 9 UBC (10-5) that extended their remarkable winning streak to 52 consecutive games since a season-opening loss to Victoria a year ago. No. 1 SFU visits Thompson Rivers (3-13) Friday and Saturday.
No. 4 Cape Breton (15-0) is the only other undefeated team in CIS women's hoops.
Women's hockey
The two-time defending national champion McGill Martlets (15-0) defeated Carleton (6-9) 4-1 on Saturday to keep their perfect record intact and extend their women's hockey record streak to 75 straight victories over CIS opponents, dating back to December of 2007. The Martlets, who have led all 14 coaches' polls this season, pay another visit to the Ravens on Saturday.
No. 2 Wilfrid Laurier, which lost to McGill in the last two CIS finals, is 22-0 in OUA action. The Golden Hawks should be tested this weekend when they visit Toronto (12-11-2) and No. 8 York (15-7-1).
Men's hockey
Following a 3-1 win over No. 10 Saint Mary's (12-8-4) and a 5-2 victory over No. 4 Acadia (15-6-2), the reigning University Cup champion UNB Varsity Reds (23-0) are five games away from becoming the fifth CIS men's hockey team since 1962-63 (first University Cup championship) to keep a perfect record throughout the regular season.
The V-Reds, who have topped all 12 media polls thus far in 2009-2010, host Moncton (8-14-1) on Wednesday night before visiting StFX (10-10-4) and Dalhousie (8-12-3) this weekend.
Women's volleyball
The two-time reigning CIS champion UBC Thunderbirds (17-0) resumed their magical season with a pair of dominating straight-set wins over No. 3 Manitoba (12-5), marking their fourth straight weekend sweep of a Top-10 opponent. The T-Birds, who lead the national rankings for the11th time in as many polls in 2009-2010, face another tough challenge this week as they are set to visit No. 7 Alberta (12-6) on Friday and Saturday.
No. 2 Montreal (18-0) is equally dominant thus far in Quebec. The Carabins face No. 10 McGill (13-5) and No. 9 Laval (12-6) this weekend to close out the regular schedule.
Men's volleyball
The 2008-09 national finalist Laval Rouge et Or (16-0) lead the Top 10 for the fifth consecutive week after they racked up two more 3-0 victories, over Sherbrooke (6-10) and McGill (3-13). The Rouge et Or can finish QSSF play with an unblemished 18-0 mark with wins over Montreal (8-8) and Sherbrooke this weekend.
Track & Field
The reigning CIS champion Windsor Lancers remain atop the women's rankings this week but drop to fourth place on the men's side behind Guelph, Saskatchewan and Ottawa.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
(regular season record) / (votes - first-place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. Simon Fraser (14-0) / 504 points (42) / (1)
2. Regina (14-2) / 460 /(2)
3. Windsor (15-1) / 418 / (3)
4. Cape Breton (15-0) / 376 / (5)
5. Saskatchewan (10-6) / 324 / (4)
6. Laval (9-1) / 308 / (6)
7. Victoria (11-4) / 256 / (7)
8. Alberta (13-5) / 210 / (8)
9. UBC (10-5) / 148 / (9)
10. Carleton (14-4) / 116 / (NR)
Other teams receiving votes: Memorial (67), Western Ontario (40),
Calgary (10), Winnipeg (6).
MEN'S BASKETBALL
(regular season record) / (votes - first-place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. Carleton (16-1) / 498 points (36) / (2)
2. UBC (14-1) / 463 (6) / (1)
3. StFX (13-0) / 423 / (3)
4. Cape Breton (12-1) / 381 / (4)
5. Calgary (13-4) / 305 / (6)
6. Ottawa (14-3) / 300 / (5)
7. Simon Fraser (12-3) / 249 / (7)
8. Lakehead (12-4) / 200 / (8)
9. Windsor (11-5) / 178 / (9)
10. Dalhousie (9-5) / 107 / (10)
Other teams receiving votes: McMaster (64), Saskatchewan (26),
Saint Mary's (24), UQAM (14), Laval (8).
WOMEN'S HOCKEY
(regular season record) / (previous rankings)
1. McGill (15-0-0) / (1)
2. Wilfrid Laurier (22-0-0) / (2)
3. Alberta (19-1-0) / (3)
4. Moncton (14-2-1) / (4)
5. StFX (14-2-3) / (5)
6. Manitoba (16-4-0) / (6)
7. Saskatchewan (12-5-3) / (8)
8. York (15-7-1) / (7)
9. Queen's (16-5-2) / (9)
10. Montreal (11-5-1) / (10)
MEN'S HOCKEY
(regular season record) / (votes - first place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. UNB (23-0-0) / 160 points (16) / (1)
2. Alberta (19-2-1) / 144 / (2)
3. UQTR (18-3-2) / 112 / (5)
4. Acadia (15-6-2) / 104 / (4)
5. Western Ontario (18-6-0) / 85 / (3)
6. McGill (18-5-0) / 81 / (6) - x
7. Lakehead (17-5-2) / 81 / (8) - x
8. Manitoba (13-7-2) / 50 / (9)
9. Waterloo (17-6-1) / 27 / (10)
10. Saint Mary's (12-8-4) / 21 / (7)
x - McGill was awarded the higher ranking based on number of higher placed votes.
Other teams receiving votes: Saskatchewan (9), Wilfrid Laurier (6).
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
(regular season record) / (votes) / (previous rankings)
1. UBC (17-0) / 60 points / (1)
2. Montreal (18-0) / 55 / (T2)
3. Manitoba (12-5) / 53 / (T2)
4. Brandon (12-4) / 47 / (9)
5. Trinity Western (9-7) / 44 / (5)
6. Regina (10-6) / 39 / (6)
7. Alberta (12-6) / 38 / (4)
8. Calgary (7-9) / 30 / (8)
9. Laval (12-6) / 26 / (10)
10. McGill (13-5) / 25 / (7)
Next highest votes (11th-15th): McMaster (16), Saint Mary's (15), Western Ontario (8), Toronto (8), Sherbrooke (6).
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
(regular season record) / (votes) / (previous rankings)
1. Laval (16-0) / 240 points / (1)
2. Dalhousie (12-2) / 199.5 / (3)
3. Alberta (12-4) / 198.5 / (2)
4. Calgary (11-3) / 183.5 / (4)
5. McMaster (13-2) / 133 / (5)
6. Thompson Rivers (9-7) / 99 / (6)
7. Winnipeg (8-5) / 96.5 / (8)
8. Trinity Western (8-6) / 92 / (7)
9. Brandon (8-6) / 84 / (9)
10. Manitoba (7-8) / 28 / (10)
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
(points) / (previous rankings)
1. Windsor 92.5 points / (1)
2. Guelph 88.5 / (4)
3. Western Ontario 84 / (3)
4. Saskatchewan 72.5 / (2)
5. York 37 / (6)
T6. Toronto 35 / (5)
T6. Alberta 35 / (T8)
T6. Sherbrooke 35 / (NR)
9. Calgary 29 / (T8)
10. Manitoba 28.5 / (7)
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
(points) / (previous rankings)
1. Guelph 100.67 points / (2)
2. Saskatchewan 72 / (3)
3. Ottawa 66 / (4)
4. Windsor 64.17 / (1)
5. Western Ontario 62.5 / (5)
6. York 45.5 / (6)
7. Regina 43.83 / (7)
8. Toronto 39.5 / (8)
9. Sherbrooke 30 / (NR)
10. McGill 24.83 / (NR)
-CIS-
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