GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons women's volleyball team expected some growing pains throughout this OUA season. An extremely young group has shown its inexperience at times. But the Gryphons flashed some killer instinct in their first outing of the new year – and it paid off. Guelph was dominant in defeating the visiting Lakehead Thunderwolves 3-1 (25-16, 25-12, 26-28, 25-15) at the GGAC Friday night.
 
Lifted by the return of veteran Libby Donevan, who was seeing her first game action of the season after dealing with a foot fracture, the Gryphons overcame early deficits and seized momentum with a good display of power and intelligent play.
 
"Our whole approach for the second half of the year is to manage our errors," said head coach Paul Funk. "We have some goals for ourselves.
 
"Our slogan is 'make them play.' We did a fairly good job of that tonight."
 
Second-year left side play Michaela Hellinga led the Gryphons with 13 kills and 4 aces, while Donevan had a solid first game back, racking up 9 kills and a team-high 6 blocks. Second-year setter Alex Curran topped Guelph in assists (36) and digs (10). Third-year right side Laura Duncan chipped in eight kills.
 
Donevan's return was big for a young team desperate for wins. The 6-3 senior looked happy to be back on the court and she stood out early, providing key kills and blocks.

 
"She's not only a veteran but she's also our tallest player," said Funk. "Libby made an immediate impact. She's a player that forces the other team to have to deal with her. Getting her back in the lineup absolutely provides some stability for us."
 
There was a delay to start the match as both the officials and Lakehead were caught in traffic. Guelph had a legitimate chance to take it in three straight sets but they faltered late in the third as the Thunderwolves scored three straight points for a 28-26 win, which cut the hosts' lead to 2-1. But the Gryphons responded and came out strong in the deciding fourth set. A Hazel Atkins kill spurred a 5-0 run that ended with a an ace from Jessica Gormley for a 17-9 lead. The visitors hit one into the net to give the Gryphons a 22-13 advantage and Hellinga got them to one point away with a timely kill. A Lakehead error on the final point secured a welcome win for Guelph, its second of the season.

The Gryphons had just 18 errors on the night, compared to 31 for the Thunderwolves.
 
"I was happy with our mental approach aside from sections of the third set," said Funk. "We will still have trouble scoring against some teams in our league but we were hitting the ball hard enough that we forced them into some errors.
 
"We got enough offence tonight."
 
Guelph went down 4-1 quickly in the opening set but began to take control with a good mix of offence and defence. Donevan immediately made her presence felt with a couple of early kills and a huge block. With the Gryphons up 15-8, Tara Tanasijevic came up with a sensational dig that enabled the hosts to take the point. Lakehead strung together a few points but Donevan closed it out on her serve, giving Guelph the first set 25-16.
 
The second set started much the same as Lakehead jumped out to a 5-2 lead. But the Gryphons crept back and tied it up 6-6 on a pair of big serves from Atkins. Hellinga added a big kill in the midst of a 7-0 run, helping Guelph take a 10-6 lead. The team's confidence seemed to grow and another powerful Hellinga kill put the Gryphons up 17-7. Guelph finished it off with a nice block to take the second set 25-12.
 
The hosts followed the same script by trailing early and at 13-7, they looked in trouble. But the Gryphons chipped away at the lead and after producing a block for one point and then a Lakehead error handing them another, the score was 18-16 Thunderwolves. Hellinga put another one away from the left side to make it 20-17 and Guelph scored two straight after that to get within one at 20-19. The Gryphons had a chance to end the set, and the match, after a long Lakehead serve made it 26-25. But the Thunderwolves reeled off three straight points to force a fourth set.
 
Guelph travels to Hamilton to take on the OUA West leader McMaster on Friday, Jan. 19. The match starts at 6 pm.