Gryphons succumb to the force of the Gael
The W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre was packed on the night of Feb. 7 as the men’s volleyball team took to the court for a lively match against the Queen’s Gaels. The atmosphere was full of energy throughout the game, with Guelph fans’ spirits still high from the women’s team defeating the Gaels 3-2 just prior to the start of the men’s match-up.
These two games marked senior’s night, an occasion on which Guelph commemorates its group of talented graduating players. The men’s team honoured four of their senior players in Marc Wilson (No. 12), Connor Cressman (No. 2), Eric Wagner (No. 5), and Patrick Strzalkowski (No. 16). Also graduating this year are two beloved trainers of the men’s team, Derek Lahaie and Kate Wortley.
The first set of the game was a close one, with the Gaels ultimately taking the set 25-23. The Gryphons trailed most of the second set, but were able to come together and take the set by a score of 25-20. The third set was well matched, with the score being just about even all the way through. Unfortunately for the Gryphons, the Gaels narrowly took the third set with a score of 25-21. The fourth match was a struggle for Gryphon fans to watch, as the Gaels kept a consistent lead throughout the entire set. Right towards the end, the Gryphons were hit with a sudden burst of energy and scored a heart-warming string of points. However, the Gaels were so far ahead that they were able to get just a few more points and take the final set with a score of 25-15.
While a win for the Gaels isn’t much cause for celebration, our Gryphons exhibited great team coordination for the majority of the game. The incredible digs and remarkable spikes kept the crowd cheering, and there were even some sneaky tips, keeping people on their toes.
For a team that saw a slip in their stats as of late, captain Patrick Strzalkowski still held and expressed his pride in the Gryphons squad following their final game, as a chance at the playoffs closed with the loss.
“This is the tightest team we’ve had, on and off the court,” Stralkowski explained when asked how the Gryphons held up this season, adding that he was especially impressed by the versatility of his teammates. The Gryphons captain went on to commend the depth of the squad, commenting on everyone’s ability to contribute, and contribute well.
In terms of stats, the men’s team was doing very well at the beginning of the season. After losing their very first game to Ryerson, they went on to win six games in a row. This brought them to eighth in the nation – a position that the team held for two weeks. Unfortunately, not long after this, the team began to slide, finishing the season off with a 9-11 record.
“[It] would definitely be this year,” Stralkowski said of his favourite volleyball memory. “I’ve never been on a team that was rolling so well.”
Just how tightly-knit the team was this year was evident on the court over their final game on Feb. 7.
They may not have won the game, but over the course of the season, they have won the hearts of fans. With the close of the 2014-15 season, the Gryphons are being held off into temporary retirement, but only until next season, when this squad rebounds and comes back even stronger.