OTTAWA – The University of Calgary was successful in two of its three bids to host Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championships, CIS announced Monday. The Dinos will play host to the 2012 CIS women's basketball championship and the 2014 CIS men's volleyball championship, with both events set to take place in the Jack Simpson Gym.

Calgary's bid to bring the University Cup men's hockey championship to southern Alberta for the first time since 1981 was unsuccessful, as the University of Saskatchewan was awarded that event for 2013 and 2014. Saskatchewan beat out five other schools for the championship, including conference rivals Calgary, Alberta, and Regina.

The CIS Selection Committee awarded a total of 22 championships in 11 sports over the next five years, with Calgary receiving two of those to go along with the previously awarded 2011 CIS swimming championships, which will plunge into the waters of the University of Calgary aquatic centre Feb. 24-26 next year.

The 2012 event will mark the return of the women's basketball tournament to Calgary for the fourth time overall and the first time since 1994. The Dinos also hosted the event in 1977 and 1978. After several unsuccessful attempts to lure the event to the Jack Simpson Gym, head coach Shawnee Harle was ecstatic to hear the announcement.

“It's an honor and a privilege to be chosen as the host for the CIS women's basketball championships in 2012,” said the 16-year coach of the Dinos. “Our team is jumping for joy and celebrating the opportunity to play in a national championship in our own gym, in front of our fans, our university, and the city of Calgary. Hosting an event of this magnitude will mean great things for Dinos women's basketball and for our school.”

The 2011 women's basketball championship was awarded to Windsor, while Regina will host in 2013.

The Dinos have raised the Bronze Baby trophy just once in their history after posting an undefeated record in the 1988-89 season.

Meanwhile, the reigning national champion Dinos men's volleyball team added another feather to its cap when CIS awarded the 2014 tournament to Calgary. Fresh off the program's fourth national title, the Dinos will welcome Canada's best volleyball squads for the sixth time after previously hosting in 1970, 1989, and 1996 through 1998.

“This is an exciting time for our program,” said Rod Durrant, who led the Dinos to a national title in his fourth year as head coach. “We know that we can put on one of the best volleyball events in the country in a fantastic facility, and it will be an outstanding experience for our student- athletes. Calgary will get to see some outstanding volleyball.”

The University of Saskatchewan will host the 2015 CIS men's volleyball championship in Saskatoon.

Other major announcements saw the 2013 and 2014 men's basketball championships sent back to Carleton University in Ottawa after a two-year stint in Halifax, while women's volleyball is headed to Regina in 2014 and Toronto in 2015.

CIS CHAMPIONSHIP HOSTS (in alphabetical order by sport)

Men's Basketball

2011 & 2012: AUS (in Halifax)
2013 & 2014: Carleton (awarded in July 2010)

Women's Basketball

2011: Windsor (awarded in July 2010)
2012: Calgary (awarded in July 2010)
2013: Regina (awarded in July 2010)

Cross Country

2010: Sherbrooke
2011: Laval
2012: TBD
2013: Western Ontario (awarded in July 2010)

Men's Hockey

2011 & 2012: UNB
2013 & 2014: Saskatchewan (awarded in July 2010)

Women's Hockey

2011: Wilfrid Laurier
2012: Alberta
2013: Toronto (awarded in July 2010)

Women's Rugby

2010 & 2011: Trent
2012: StFX (awarded in July 2010)
2013: Laval (awarded in July 2010)

Men's Soccer

2010: Toronto
2011: Victoria
2012: Laval
2013: UNB (awarded in July 2010) 
2014: UPEI (awarded in July 2010)

Women's Soccer

2010: UPEI
2011: McGill
2012: Victoria
2013: Toronto (awarded in July 2010)
2014: Laval (awarded in July 2010)

Swimming

2011: Calgary

Men's Volleyball

2011: Trinity Western
2012: Queen's
2013: Laval
2014: Calgary (awarded in July 2010)
2015: Saskatchewan (awarded in July 2010)

Women's Volleyball

2011: Laval
2012: McMaster
2013: Sherbrooke
2014: Regina (awarded in July 2010)
2015: Toronto (awarded in July 2010)

Wrestling

2011 & 2012: Lakehead (awarded in July 2010)
2013: Western Ontario (awarded in July 2010)

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