GUELPH, Ont. – On Friday night (Nov. 4) OUA Women's Volleyball action returned to the Gryphons Athletics Centre as the University of Guelph Gryphons women's volleyball team hosted the Nipissing Lakers in their 2022-23 season opener. Fans in attendance were treated to an absolute thriller of a match between the Gryphons and Lakers, with the Gryphs dropping the first two sets 25-19 and 25-20 but turning it on in the 3^rd and 4^th sets to win 25-16 and 25-17 before ultimately falling 15-9 in the fifth and final set.
 
Playing in what was both their 2022-23 season opener and first home game, the Gryphons received standout performances from several players. 2021 OUA All-Rookie outside hitter, Sophie Fernback recorded a team-high 15 kills, accounting for 18 of the Gryphons 61 points. Jaymie Stephenson, a 5-foot-10 hitter from Barrie added 10 kills and 14 total points. Third year players Ella Carter and Ella Mackenzie also played significant roles in the Gryphons success on Friday night. Carter tallied 31 kill assists as the anchor in the Gryphon attack while Ella Mackenzie helped lead defensively with two blocks. After evening the game at two sets apiece the Gryphons looked poised to claim their first win of the 2022-23 season, after winning the third and fourth sets in convincing fashion. The visiting Nipissing Lakers would then take control in the fifth set, building an early lead and although the Gryphs would rally late to make it a 9-9 game the Lakers would close it out with 6 straight points.
 
The Gryphons (0-1) will face off against the Lakers again on Saturday (Nov. 5) for the second match of their back-to-back series to open the season. The match is set for 6pm at the Gryphon Athletic Centre and cane be seen live online at www.oua.tv.