Guelph, Ont. – The Gryphon men's volleyball team has added seven new players to their roster for the 2014-2015 season which will start on Friday (Oct. 17) when the Gryphons travel to Toronto to take on Ryerson in their OUA regular season opener.
 
After going 5-15 and missing out on the playoffs a year ago, the Gryphons enter 2014-2015 with plenty of new faces and some key returnees as well.  Back for his fifth year is team MVP Patrick Strzalkowski (St. Catharines, Ont.) who last season led the team in scoring with an average 3.23 points per game, while also leading the OUA in service aces with 40.  Another fifth year senior who will play a significant role for the Gryphons this season is 6'8 middle blocker Marc Wilson (Stratford, Ont.).  Helping Wilson anchor the middle will be 6'9 Luke Woud (Uxbridge, Ont.), who has impressed his coaches with his commitment in the weight room and on the practice court this past off season.  Joshua Green (Georgetown, Ont.), who was named the team's Most Improved Player a season ago, returns for his second year with the Gryphons.  He too has stepped up his off-season workout regimen to help prepare for the rigors of the tough OUA schedule.  Kyle Richards (London, Ont.) has taken on a leadership role this preseason and is the Gryphons setter and floor general.  And then there are the rookies.
 
Of the six rookies on the roster look out for Zachary Newman (Kitchener, Ont.), Kendrick Kerr (Georgetown, Ont.) and Austin MacIntyre (Chicago, IL) who are expected to get significant playing time this year as all three have shown great promise in the preseason matches. Kaj Wigston (Guelph, Ont.), Samuel Kloke (Whitby, Ont.), Conan Mickey (Brandon, MB) and Robert Scott (St. Catharines, Ont.) were also excellent off season additions to the group.  The added depth the Gryphons now have bodes well for the not only this season, but for years to come for the program.  In 2014-2015, getting off to a good start and staying healthy will be crucial for the Gryphons as they look to return to the OUA playoffs for the first time since the 2011-2012 campaign.  After facing Ryerson on Friday, the Gryphons will open up their home schedule next weekend when they host Nipissing (Oct. 24) and York (Oct. 25).