The Western Mustangs were crowned 2019 Excalibur Classic champions on Sunday afternoon in the 40^th edition of annual tournament. Western went a perfect 3-0 in the round robin tournament, the only team to go undefeated throughout the entire weekend.
 
The championship win was the fourth all-time at the tournament for the Mustangs, who also won previously in 2011, 2012 and 2015.
 
The Mustangs opened the tournament on Friday with a 3-1 win over the Nipissing Lakers (25-23, 19-25, 25-22 and 27-25) and followed that up with another 3-1 win over the host Lions on Saturday (25-22, 25-19, 23-25 and 25-14). They ended their tournament with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Queen's Gaels on Sunday afternoon (29-31, 25-23, 25-20 and 25-22).
 
The host Lions had a tough tournament as they went winless in their first action of 2019, dropping a close 3-2 game to the Humber Hawks on Friday (25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 24-26 and 15-12), falling to the Mustangs on Saturday and losing 3-2 to the Guelph Gryphons on Sunday (23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 18-25 and 15-11). Despite the setback, the Lions got in some valuable playing time for both veterans and rookies alike as they gear up for the second half of the OUA season.
 
All six teams will now return to their conference regular-seasons next weekend. The Lions will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 12 when they visit their cross-town rivals the Ryerson Rams. Game time is 4pm.
 

Friday, Jan. 4
Game 1 - 2pm	Humber 3 vs. York 2
Game 2 - 4pm	Queen's 3 vs. Guelph 2
Game 3 - 6pm	Western 3 vs. Nipissing 1

Saturday, Jan. 5
Game 4 - 2pm	Nipissing 3 vs. Guelph 1
Game 5 - 4pm	Western 3  vs. York 1
Game 6 - 6pm	Humber 3 vs. Queen's 0

Sunday, Jan. 6
Game 7 - 2pm	Western 3 vs. Queen's 1
Game 8 - 4pm	Nipissing 3 vs. Humber 1
Game 9 - 6pm	Guelph 3 vs. York 2

PAST CHAMPIONS
2019 Western
2018 Dalhousie
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