General 4/13/2021 1:00:00 PM Muad Issa, Sport Information Officer

MARAUDERS SELECTED TO HOST U SPORTS MEN'S & WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

It was announced today by U SPORTS, the national governing body for university sport, that the McMaster Marauders have been awarded both the 2023 U SPORTS Men's Volleyball championship, and the 2024 U SPORTS Women's Volleyball championship.

This will mark the sixth occasion the men's program has hosted the national championship, while the women will receive the honour for the third time in their history. Both squads co-hosted both championships in 1979 – the first time it was awarded to McMaster.

"We're extremely excited to be hosting the 2023 U SPORTS national men's volleyball championship in Burridge Gym," said men's volleyball head coach, Dave Preston. "We're looking forward to hosting our community, hosting the nation, but also providing a tremendous student-athlete experience here on campus."

The last time the men's championship was hosted in Burridge Gym was 2018, where the Marauders captured a U SPORTS bronze medal. Their title hopes last season were put to a halt as the 2020 national championship was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The team reached the podium on the national stage for six straight seasons from 2013-2018, capturing two silver medals and four bronze in that time span.

Meanwhile, the women's championship returns to Burridge for the first time since 2012. Since then, women's volleyball head coach, Tim Louks, and his team have been a force to reckon with in the country.

Louks has coached his squad to OUA championships in 2008, 2014, and 2017, the last championship marking their most recent appearance on the national stage.

"To bring the championship back to McMaster's prestigious Burridge gym, I'm looking forward to it as we build towards 2024," said Louks. "It is a great opportunity, certainly for our student-athletes to be part of this event, but it's also very important to be part of the partnerships that are going to be in place with the community at large."

U SPORTS Men's Volleyball Host Rotation

Mar. 18-20, 2022: Manitoba Bisons
Mar. 17-19, 2023: McMaster Marauders
Mar. 15-17, 2024: Queen's Gaels
Mar. 14-16, 2025: Brandon Bobcats

U SPORTS Women's Volleyball Host Rotation

Mar. 18-20, 2022: Calgary Dinos
Mar. 17-19, 2023: UBC Thunderbirds
Mar. 15-17, 2024: McMaster Marauders
Mar. 14-16, 2025: Manitoba Bisons

Partnership Opportunities *****
The volleyball U Sports national championships present a unique opportunity for the Hamilton community to invest in a national level event, in back-to-back years, that will have a lasting impact on McMaster student-athletes and their respective programs. For further inquiry, please reach out to mailto:sponsors@mcmaster.ca for more information.

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