GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men's volleyball team returns to the court to begin a new season of OUA volleyball when they open the regular season with a doubleheader in London against the Western Mustangs on Friday (Oct. 24) and Saturday (Oct. 25). The 2025-26 regular season is the same as last season where 13 programs from across the province play 20 games with the top 8 teams in the OUA ladder qualifying for the postseason. The playoff format remains unchanged as the quarterfinals and semifinals are a single elimination game before it culminates in the Forsyth Cup to determine a champion on March 6.
 
"Overall, we are a young team this season, with 12 of our guys being in either their first-year or second-year," says head coach Cal Wigston who enters his 20th season leading the University of Guelph men's volleyball program. "We have plenty of talent and potential within this group, and it will come down to our ability to produce consistently throughout the course of the season."
 
Coming off an outstanding first year in Guelph, second-year setter Tian Harcevic returns looking to build off his rookie season. The Oakville native took off in the second half of last season, starting in 8 games and still managed to finish the season with 349 assists and 92 digs, earning him a spot on the OUA All-Rookie Team. Management economics and finance major Michael Dobell will be the team's primary backup at setter. Second-year outside hitter Killian Donovan is expected to take a big jump this upcoming season from the left side as he is coming off a strong summer of training. The Sydney, Australia native last season against Western (Feb. 14) had a season-high 10 kills in the team's win. Guelph native Braeden Sears brings plenty of experience at outside hitter and serves as one of the team captains in 2025-26. Sears last season racked up a 16 kill performance on February 15 against the Mustangs. Cohen Martin is back with the team for his third season on the left side where he had some big games for the Gryphons last year, including a 22 kill outing against TMU (Jan. 24). Quinn Valley is another left side hitter entering his second season with the team as the Victoria, BC native looks to make an impact in 2025-26. Liam Kinahan is back with the team for his fifth season as the human kinetics major last season finished with 79 kills in 13 matches. Jacob Schweyer returns for his final season while also being named one of the team captains for the 2025-26 campaign.
 
6-foot-7 middle blocker Nathan Peters is back with the Gryphons for his fourth season. The Ottawa native and 2025-26 captain had a strong 2024-25 season, tallying 97 kills and 51 total blocks in 19 games played. Finn Hughes and Matthew McCarthy are poised to make an impact for the squad this season in the front row. Hughes is going into his second season with the team is a phenomenal jumper as he impressed against Windsor on November 1 with an 8 kill performance. Ian McQueen is an incoming rookie who represented Team Ontario at the 2025 Canada Summer Games. Daniel Pickett returns for his fourth season as the team's libero and team captain. The Wiarton, ON native led the team last season with 125 digs. Kaden Tran is an incoming rookie from Calgary who will back up the talented and proven Daniel Pickett at libero.
 
After Friday and Saturday's season-opening doubleheader against Western, the Gryphons will return to their home court on November 7 when they host the Trent Excalibur in their 2025-26 home opener. The Gryphons season opener, along with all their regular season games, will be available live online at www.oua.tv. Tickets for all of the Gryphons home game are available at gryphons.ca/tickets.