GUELPH – The good times continue for the Guelph Gryphons women's volleyball team. The surging Gryphons defended their home court Sunday afternoon at the GGAC, defeating the Lakehead Thunderwolves in straight sets (25-28, 26-24, 25-17) for the team's fourth win in five matches since the new year began.
 
Head coach Paul Funk told his players to be careful of a "trap game" Sunday, less than 48 hours after an energy-sapping five-set win over Waterloo Friday night. But the Gryphons were sharp, staying true to their "make them play" focus by committing just 13 errors on the day.
 
"To have to wait a day, come back and play on Sunday afternoon, which has never been a strength, there was a danger of letting up," said Funk. "We played well enough to win."

 
Middle blocker Libby Donevan had 9 kills and 3 blocks for Guelph (5-9), while left side Michaela Hellinga had 8 kills along with 4 service aces. Second-year setter Alex Curran had an impressive day with 28 assists, 13 digs and 4 solo blocks. One of those blocks was timely, giving Guelph an 8-5 lead in the decisive third set.
 
Guelph didn't necessarily start well but the team has been learning how to finish. The focus on minimizing mistakes was evident in the third set when the Gryphons produced 14 kills and zero errors. Up 11-10 in third, Guelph got a kill from Hazel Atkins that spurred a 6-1 run. Jessica Chung would eventually end the match with a big kill.
 
The Gryphons found themselves down 8-2 early in the first set. But the hosts cleaned up their game and manufactured a huge 14-3 run coming out of a timeout to seize control. Guelph was in a battle in the second but got a key block from Donevan to make it 25-24 before Lakehead made an attack error on a Jessica Gormley serve to end the set.
 
Guelph was just 1-8 after nine matches this season but has turned the year around since the calendar rolled over to 2018. The Gryphons' run started with a 3-1 win against Lakehead back on Jan. 12 and their only loss in the last five was a competitive match with the OUA West leaders McMaster. The team's turnaround has them contending for a playoff spot.
 
"At the halfway point of the year, we needed about 23 things to break our way in order to have a shot," Funk said of Guelph's playoff chances. "Probably 12 of them so far have gone our way and a couple haven't. We were dead and gone in the first semester but we're back in the hunt now.
 
Funk is happy for his players, who have given everything all season.
 
"This group is putting in the work that's necessary in order to get better and it's nice to see that it's paying off," he said. "Even when we were struggling, the girls were working hard. They just weren't getting rewarded for it. I've seen improvements from certain players with certain skills.
 
"They are gaining a little bit of confidence. That comes with winning."
 
The Gryphons have a big matchup in Waterloo with the Warriors on Saturday, Feb. 3. Match time is 6 pm.