Canada’s top eight collegiate women’s volleyball teams – including the Niagara College Knights — will fight for gold in Welland March 6-9, as Niagara College hosts the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Volleyball National Championship.
“This national championship is both a celebration of sports excellence and a chance to honour the incredibly talented female athletes and coaches involved in competitive sports across this country – right here in Niagara,” said Michele O’Keefe, associate director, Athletics and Recreation at NC.
Teams will arrive in Niagara on Tuesday, March 5, with practice sessions scheduled for Wednesday, March 6. The CCAA Awards Banquet will take place in the evening on March 6, with awards given to All-Canadians, Player and Coach of the Year, among others. The first match will take place on Thursday, March 7 at 1 p.m. following a Sports Symposium. Final matches begin on Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m. (bronze medal) and 8 p.m. (gold medal), followed by closing ceremonies at 10 p.m.
The home-team Niagara College Knights will take on Victoria Island University Mariners on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. The Knights, freshly off their silver medal at the OCAAs, will take on The Mariners, winners of the 2018 CCAA championship.
All games take place at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre. The games are free for NC students, $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Children under 12 are free and all are welcome.
“It is our intention, with the support of our corporate partners, the Niagara College campus community, and the region’s volleyball community, to stage yet another successful CCAA National Championship,” said Ray Sarkis, championship chair and Niagara College’s intercollegiate coordinator. “Our host and organizing committee are excited and honoured to host this prestigious national event.”
NC will also be celebrating the achievements of its female athletes in honour of International Women’s Day, which coincides with the games on Friday, March 8.
The Sport Symposium will take place on Thursday, March 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in The Core at NC’s Welland Campus and feature many big names in sports. Topics will include sports business, sport marketing, sports communication, and the 2021 Canada Summer Games.
This national event will also provide unique learning opportunities for Niagara College students from several program areas. Students from the Broadcasting: Radio, Television and Film, Sport Management, Police Foundations and other programs will participate in different aspects of the Championship operations – from broadcasting and live-streaming to event security.
NCSAC and St. Catharines Volkswagen are the presenting sponsors of the CCAA Championship.
National partners include the Government of Canada, Molten, Kahunaverse, Adidas, Jostens, 4Imprint, Vereburn and Volleyball Canada.
Associate partners are campus Living Centres, SDR, MT Bellies.
Our local partners are Rexroth, The Scoreboard Man, Gym-Bon, Innvest hotels, Advantage Solutions, and Heart of Niagara Hotels
