They started the Canada West season 0-3, but they got it done when it mattered most. UBC beat Ryerson to win its eight national crown for longtime head coach Doug Reimer on Sunday in Edmonton. (Photo by Don Voaklander/Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Women's Volleyball

A No. 8 seed and an epic rally! How UBC women’s volleyball found its mojo just in time to win an unlikely national title

It’s starting libero had retired from the game. One of its key middle blockers had left for the entire first semester to pursue academic opportunities on another continent. 

Langley's Trinity Western Spartans react to national title point on Sunday in Quebec City as No. 2 TWU won its sixth U Sports national title with a victory over No. 1 Brandon. (Photo by Scott Stewart property of Trinity Western athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
While a solemn Keenan Danso-Dapaah of the Sheridan Bruins walks off the court of Saturday night, Vancouver Island Mariners players and coaches erupt into celebration after winning the CCAA national title at the LEC. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

A Sunday Read: The simple truth behind three days of magic! How VIU’s Mariners perfected the art of the rally to win a CCAA national crown

LANGLEY — His tears had barely had time to dry and his voice, emotion-tinged from the kind of elation that only a national championship can bring, had recovered just enough to get a special message out.

Holland's hulking Martin Campbell goes airborne in the paint as he tries to power his way for a lay-in during CCAA Final Four clash Friday at the LEC against the Sheridan Bruins. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 2: Sheridan’s ‘Braveheart’ Bruins top No. 1 Holland, set the stage for title tilt with Nanaimo’s VIU Mariners

LANGLEY — On Thursday, Sheridan Bruins head coach Jim Flack waxed on about the joy of having his team’s senior leadership become the empowering force that helped carry the OCAA champs to the CCAA’s Final Four here at the Langley Events Centre.

VIU's Tyus Barfoot (right) hugs teammate Landon Radliff after yet another Mariners' rally carried them past Vanier and into Saturday's CCAA championship final at the LEC. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 2: Magnificent Mariners do it again! In Friday’s Final Four, VIU rallies from 19 down to stun Montreal’s Vanier Cheetahs

LANGLEY— Their compass won’t let them down. For a second straight night here at the CCAA men’s national basketball championships, the Vancouver Island Mariners have stared down a double-digit defict and in the end, turned it to dust.

Battling knee issues throughout his career, Langara's fifth-year guard-forward Drake Downer (14) has been an unquestioned leader on a team which includes the likes of (left to right): Tyler Anderson, Tyson Brown and fellow senior Timmie Choi. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 2: Langara’s Drake Downer on his dozen-plus knee injuries and how he found the will to persevere

LANGLEY — Ask Drake Downer about perhaps the most battle-scarred right knee in recent B.C. high school and university basketball history, and he’s more than happy to give an aural history and guided tour.

Humber's Fowzi Mohamoud (left), who hit a pair of third quarter treys, drives the ball past SAIT's Camille Kamba on Friday at the 2019 CCAA championships. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 2: Paint this one Humber! Hawks attack inside, topple SAIT Trojans in quest for bronze

LANGLEY — Toronto’s Humber Hawks may be out of the hunt for gold here at the CCAA men’s basketball championships, yet there was more than enough evidence to suggest Friday that the plane ride back east Sunday morning will be a lot more palatable with a cache of bronze medals.

Langara's Grant Galbraith (top) battled for a rebound with Hollaand's Roosevelt Whyley during opening-round action from the CCAA National men's championships held at the Langley Events Centre. (Photo by Wilson Wong 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 1: Langara coach Eberhardt on loss to No. 1-seed Holland: “We just got hit by a Hurricane”

LANGLEY — Paul Eberhardt didn’t rehearse the line, so when it came time to dissecting what went wrong for his Langara Falcons in the opening round of the CCAA National championships Thursday night, the head coach caught himself chucking just a split second before delivering an unintended pun. “We just got hit by a hurricane,” he […]