The York University Lions men's volleyball team will begin 2018 by welcoming nine other squads to the Tait McKenzie Centre for the 39^th annual Excalibur Volleyball Classic, Jan. 5-7.
 
The 10-team tournament is the biggest in recent history and will feature six Ontario University Athletics (OUA) teams, one from Athletic University Sport (AUS), two from the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) and one CEGEP program.
 
The 10 squads have been divided into two pools and will play four round-robin games each. The top team in each pool will battle for the gold medal on Sunday afternoon at 2pm, and the second-place teams will compete for bronze on the same day at 11am.
 
The host Lions will headline Pool A alongside the Dalhousie Tigers, Queen's Gaels, Windsor Lancers and Fanshawe Falcons, while Pool B will include the Toronto Varsity Blues, Nipissing Lakers, Western Mustangs, Humber Hawks and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Geants.
 
Action begins on Friday, Jan. 5 with 10 round-robin games spread out over two venues. The teams in Pool A will play two games each in the main gym and Pool B squads will face-off in the field house. The first games will begin at 12pm and will be followed by matches at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm.
 
The round-robin will conclude on Saturday with matches beginning at 10am and happening every two hours until the final ones at 6pm.
 
Click here for a full tournament schedule.
 
The Lakers are the defending champions of the tournament after winning their first title at the Excalibur Classic last January. The Lions won their own tournament in 2016 for the first time since 1989, and the Mustangs were crowned champions the year before that, which was their third title in five years. Queen's last won the trophy in 2002 and was also victorious in 1999, Dalhousie captured back-to-back trophies in 2008 and 2009, and the Varsity Blues won their lone gold medal in 2001.
 
The action on the court promises to be intense as 10 high-calibre teams compete for the gold medal. The teams will also be looking for success they can build upon as they enter the second half of the season and, eventually, the playoffs later this semester.
 
The Lions are tied with Ryerson for top spot in the OUA East standings with 12 points and have a four-point advantage over the Gaels and a six-point lead over both the Lakers and Varsity Blues. The Mustangs and Lancers, meanwhile, are tied for second place in the OUA West with 10 points apiece.
 
Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Tait McKenzie Centre prior to each game. Prices are $10 for a day pass and $20 for a weekend pass.

Past Champions
2017    Nipissing
2016    York
2015    Western
2014    Laval
2013    Ryerson
2012    Western
2011    Western
2010    Laval              
2009    Dalhousie
2008    Dalhousie
2007    Manitoba
2006    Manitoba
2005    Ryerson
2004    Ryerson
2003    Laval
2002    Queen's
2001    Toronto
2000    Trinity Western
1999    Queen's
1998    Tskuba (Japan)
1997    Sherbrooke
1996    Laval
1995    Manitoba
1994    Laval
1993    Montreal
1992    McMaster
1991    Calgary
1990    Manitoba
1989    York
1988    Penn State
1987    Winnipeg
1986    Penn State
1985    Manitoba
1984    Ball State
1983    Manitoba
1982    Alberta
1981    Penn State
1980    Penn State