WATERLOO – It took the Guelph Gryphons women's volleyball team a while to find their identity this season. The Gryphons have also developed a taste for winning the past month and they have had to dig deep recently to keep an impressive run of results going. Guelph came back from being down a set to defeat the Waterloo Warriors 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-10) at the PAC on the U of W campus.
 
The win was Guelph's fifth in six matches in 2018 and second over the Warriors in the span of a week. According to head coach Paul Funk, it was also the Gryphons' first victory in Waterloo for many years. But in terms of the division standings, the result was huge. Guelph has rebounded from a 1-8 start to take over fourth in OUA West.
 
"This was a massive match in terms of playoff implications," said Funk, noting that a loss would've dropped his team to sixth place.
 
Funk said the Gryphons (6-9) were far from their best but they overcame struggles at various points of the match to pull out their fourth straight win.
 
"It was a gutty performance," he said with pride. "We hung around and bought some time before we finally found a little flow and energy.
 
"We got 'er done."
 
Second-year left side Michaela Hellinga was a catalyst, leading Guelph in both kills (16) and digs (16). Middle blocker Libby Donevan added 13 kills and 4 blocks, while second-year setter Alex Curranhad 42 assists and 15 digs.
 
"Michaela and Libby carried the offence tonight," said Funk.
  
But the coach said Guelph got an excellent contribution from first-year left side Ashley Vang. Fellow rookie Hazel Atkins had been suffering from the flu all week and Funk subbed Vang in for the ailing starter.
 
"Ashley stabilized us with her serves and defence," said Funk. "She brought energy to the floor and we were better."
 
Guelph was down 2-1 in sets and tied 15-15 in the fourth when Jessica Gormley produced a key stuff that spurred an 8-1 run. The Gryphons carried that momentum into the fifth set and three early mistakes from Waterloo would set the tone. Atkins got back into the match and had a big cross-court kill that gave Guelph a 7-5 lead, the second point in a 7-1 run that put the visitors in position to finish. They did exactly that when Donevan smashed a cross-court winner to secure the final set 15-10. 
 
It was another clean outing for the Gryphons, who continue to focus on making their opponents misstep first. Guelph had 55 kills and just 16 errors in the five sets, while Waterloo managed 63 kills but had 36 errors.
  
"We began to get some blocks and our defence improved," Funk said of Guelph's turnaround in the fourth set. "We started to zone in a little more."
  
Guelph is back on the court for a home date with the Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday, Feb. 9. Match time is 6 pm.