National volleyball championship coming to Niverville in 2025
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This article was published 05/03/2024 (426 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Volleyball fans in the region should mark their calendars, as a spectacular show is on the way to Niverville.
Providence College will host the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association’s (CCAA) men’s national championship in 2025. The Niverville Rec Centre’s AMF field-house will welcome the best college programs from across the nation, in the first time a CCAA championship is competed for in Manitoba.
“It really is a big announcement for Providence, Niverville and this region of the province,” Providence’s Director of Athletics, Russell Willms, said in a news release.
“With such a wealth of volleyball talent, both in terms of athletes and coaches, in this area of Canada, it is only fitting that we showcase the passion for volleyball that lives in these communities by hosting an event such as this.”
The Manitoba College Athletic Conference (MCAC) only entered the CCAA in 2019, and began playing in national championships in volleyball and soccer in 2021.
Hosting comes with its privileges on the court as well, as head coach Paul Armbruster was quick to point out after clinching the team’s second consecutive MCAC championship in Niverville Feb. 25.
“We can go into nationals with the knowledge this is going to be a two-year event,” Armbruster said, thanking former coach Cody Quiring for leading Providence to a provincial title and nationals berth last season.
“We have some older players on the team, but we also have some pretty young guys. This is a great experience for them to learn what it’s like to be in this environment.”
The Pilots will travel to Victoria to play in this year’s edition of the tournament, and no doubt will return amped up and ready to compete at next year’s championship in their own gym.
“It’s a short-term and long term gift for us that not many programs can do,” Armbruster said.
If the Manitoba final was anything to go by, Providence can expect boisterous support when nationals come to town next year.
“Credit to Pilots nation and the amazing support we had today,” Armbruster said after the MCAC finals.
“You only get to play in environments like this so many times. For us to be able to be hosting, to come out on top, and have such a special environment. It’s a triple-crown.”
The 2025 men’s CCAA championships will be hosted from March 3-9.