GUELPH, Ont. - With a chance to head to their first OUA Final Four since the 2016-17 season, nothing was going to stand in the Guelph Gryphon's way Saturday afternoon at the GGAC. Coming out on a mission, the Gryphons played one of their best matches of the season as they swept the Ryerson Rams 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-19).
Led by a game-high 15 kills from Zarko Ubiparip, the Gryphons put the pressure on Ryerson early and often with their offensive attack. Meanwhile, defensively, Guelph was able to hold in check arguably the best hitter in the OUA.
Coming in to the match knowing they were going to have to find a way to deal with Xander Ketrzynski, who led the OUA in kills by a wide margin this year, the Gryphons were able to force the Rams into using other options while holding him to nine kills.
With the Gryphon's doing their best to establish an early lead, they jumped out in front of Ryerson 7-5 off the hop. From there, the Gryphons began to take full control of the momentum. Winning five straight points, Guelph built themselves a 12-5 advantage. Although the visitors were able to work their way back in to the set and ultimately take a 21-20 lead, the Gryphons responded with five straight points to win the opening set 25-21.
As the second set got underway, with both teams knowing its importance, there was very little to separate the two sides. With neither team able to take a lead bigger than two points for much of the set, Guelph was finally able to establish the first three point advantage just before the technical time-out. Up 15-13, the Gryphons extended the lead to 16-13 following a Ryerson missed serve. From that point on, Guelph was able to take control. After winning the next two points, the Gryphons would not allow the lead to shrink any smaller than four the rest of the way as they took the second set 25-20.
Now with just 25 points standing in the way of the Gryphons heading to the OUA Final Four, the third set began in a very similar fashion to the second one. Through the first ten points of the set the score sat tied 5-5. However, much like the set prior, the home team once again was able to get momentum on their side. Putting a couple of different runs together the Gryphons built up a 14-10 lead. All of a sudden staring elimination in the face, the Rams continued to battle though. 
Trimming the Guelph advantage to just two points at 18-16, the Gryphons then took over from there. Using kill after kill, the Gryphons went on to take seven of the next ten points for a 25-19 victory.
Along with Ubiparip's strong offensive display, the Gryphons also had strong nights from Oliver Hissink who had eight kills and Jonathan Pickett who tallied six of his own. Leading the way in the block department for Guelph was Jakson Paterson with three, while Gideon Dresser led the team in assists with 30.
The Gryphons will now turn their attention to the OUA Final Four which gets underway on March 6 and carries through to March 7 in Hamilton where the McMaster Marauders will serve as hosts.
