GUELPH, Ont. –  The Guelph Gryphons men's volleyball team was eager to see where it stacked up against an OUA West division that's simply loaded this year. Guelph passed its first test, defeating the Waterloo Warriors 3-1 in the OUA season opener Saturday afternoon at the GGAC.

Guelph played with energy and power, winning the match 25-18, 25-19, 19-25, and 25-23. Fifth-year Gryphon Zachary Newman led both teams with 14 kills, while Guelph's new setter Oliver Hissink was excellent in the role, registering a match-high 33 assists.

Guelph also got big contributions from the duo defensively and in the passing game to go up 2-0 in sets before the Warriors made some adjustments bounced back with good work in the third. The Gryphons didn't want to see it go to a fifth and they dug deep in a tight and decisive fourth. A Zarko Ubiparip kill put the hosts up 17-13 and Guelph eventually led 24-21 on an ace from 6-8 third-year player Matthew Baxter, who served well on the day and provided timely kills.

It got close late as Waterloo scored two straight points but Nolan Spencer's serve flew into the net to give the Gryphons the fourth set at 25-23.

Guelph came out well in front of the home crowd at the GGAC, playing with precision in building the 2-0 lead. The Gryphons were up early in the first set and Newman would finish it off with a kill to the delight of the fans in attendance.

The second set was initially close but Guelph began to pull away with leads of 16-11 and 22-15 before benefitting from a Waterloo attack error to end it 25-20.

 
Gryphon Take
"It was a great test for us. Waterloo is a good team, well-coached with some big players. They will be tough to beat this year. Our team played really well together and responded to Waterloo's push. I'm glad we were able to pull out the win. The league is going to be really tight and for us to remain in the mix, we need to protect home court. It doesn't get any easier next week with high-flying York coming to town." – head coach Cal Wigston

 
The Record
Guelph is 1-0.

 
Next up
York, Friday, Nov. 2, 8 pm @ Gryphon Centre Arena