GUELPH – So much for opening-day jitters. The Guelph Gryphons men's volleyball team looked in form in their 2017/18 OUA debut. The Gryphons were sharp and efficient in taking down the visiting Western Mustangs 3-0 on Friday night at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre. Guelph finished Western quickly, winning the three straight sets by scores of 25-21, 25-18 and 25-16.
 
Guelph played some of the nation's best teams in the preseason, including the two-time defending U SPORTS champion Trinity Western. The experience showed in the opener with the Gryphons' superior execution.
 
"Our serving and passing was really good," said head coach Cal Wigston. "Our serving and passing was right on top and our defence was outstanding. We were just defending all of the shots they were throwing at us.
 
"It was a great opening night."
 
Second-year right side player Matthew Baxter had a game-high eight kills, while fourth-year right side Zachary Newman added six. Second-year middle blocker Jakson Paterson and third-year middle blocker Samuel Nothnagel had four and three blocks respectively to combine for seven of the team's 11 on the night. Veteran setter Samuel Kloke racked up 22 assists, while fourth-year libero Kaj Wigston had a team-best five digs.
 
Nothnagel played a key role in helping Guelph take the commanding two-set lead. The Gryphons were in a battle in the first as a few service errors enabled Western to hang around. But up 18-16, Nothnagel came up with a clutch ace down the left side. Fifth-year left side and team captain Joshua Green followed up with a big kill, one of their eight in the set, to complete a 4-0 run and make it 22-16.
 
In the second, at 8-5 up, Guelph manufactured three straight blocks, the last from Paterson, during a 5-1 run for a 12-6 lead. Both teams exchanged small runs but the Gryphons took control and a Nothnagel kill ended the set.
 
Western was error-prone in the third and Guelph seized the chance to lead 15-7. A 6-1 run pushed it to 23-13 and the Gryphons closed it out. The hosts looked good, making 24 kills and committing just 12 errors, while the Mustangs had 30, 13 of which came in the decisive third set.
 
The Gryphons will look to keep their early momentum going when they host the Windsor Lancers Saturday, Oct. 28. The matchup gets underway at 8 pm.
 
"Windsor is probably the most improved team in the league," said Wigston. "They've got three players who can go off at anytime, they're well coached, they're just a really good team."