GUELPH, Ont. – It's been smooth sailing for the Guelph Gryphons men's volleyball team in the early part of the OUA season. But the Gryphons couldn't keep the momentum of an impressive start going Saturday afternoon. Guelph took the first set but ultimately lost 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 20-25, 18-25) to the Western Mustangs in OUA West action at the GGAC.
 
Second-year left side Zarko Ubiparip had team-highs of 12 kills and 8 digs, while veteran Zachary Newman filled the stat sheet with 10 kills, and team-high totals of 3 aces and 3 blocks, as well as 5 digs.
 
Guelph, winners of its first two matches this season, came out flying. The Gryphons built leads of 6-0, 8-1 and 11-3 with some excellent play. Though Western worked back into the set, a Samuel Nothnagel kill made it 21-17 before two Mustang errors had the hosts within sight of a 1-0 lead. Newman got them to 24 with a kill and Ubiparip ended it with his own finish to put Guelph up early.
 
It was the highlight of the day for the Gryphons, who had to play catch-up after falling behind 8-3 in the second. Western tied it 1-1 on a kill from Gianfranco Sartor and won five of the final eight points for a 25-20 win in the third set. The Mustangs then went on a 6-0 run in the deciding set to lead 21-11 and absorbed a mini run from Guelph to take the match on a Jackson Bere kill.
 
The Gryphons had 20 service errors, which proved critical in the final outcome.

 
Gryphon Take
"We didn't pass well at all. And when you hand a team almost a full set of service errors, you're in trouble. We have to take care of the ball a little more. We defended well but we didn't take care of the ball on our side." – head coach Cal Wigston

 
The Record
Guelph is 2-1.

 
Next up
Windsor, Sunday, Nov. 11, 3 pm @ Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre