GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons knew they were going to be in tough Friday night at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre, but that didn't stop them from coming out and putting on a thrilling show for everyone in attendance. The Gryphons took the No. 2-nationally ranked Ryerson Rams to five sets, however, they ultimately lost the match (16-25, 25-13, 21-25, 26-24, 11-15) coming up just short in the deciding set.
Although in a losing cause, the Gryphons were able to rely on 3rd-year local product Lisa Wedel. With timely kills to gather momentum for the home team and stop Ryerson runs, she finished the game with 21 kills and 24 points. Also playing a big factor in the Gryphon's attack was 5th-year left-side Jade Ziebarth who accounted for 16 of Guelph's points, while tallying 14 kills.
In the first set of the contest, the Rams were able to jump out to a 10-2 lead and use that early advantage to carry themselves through to an opening set victory.
Once the second set rolled around, the script completely flipped. All of a sudden it was the Gryphons taking charge of the match and causing all kinds of problems for the Rams. With strong net play from Ziebarth and Jessica Chung, Guelph jumped out to an early 10-2 advantage. The Gryphons continued to apply the pressure throughout the rest of the set getting their lead as high as fifteen points at 20-5. After Ryerson tried to come back late in the set, Noa Pijl got the set winning kill for Guelph as they took it 25-13.
With both teams looking to take the set lead entering the third, there wasn't much to separate the two sides up to the technical time-out. After the Gryphons jumped out to a 4-1 lead, neither team led by more than a point until Ryerson went ahead 16-14 at the break. From there, the Rams were able to go one a bit of run, and take the set 25-21.
With their backs against the wall going into a must-win fourth set, the Gryphons proved to be up for the challenge. Much like the previous set, very little proved to work in trying to separate the Gryphons and Rams. Again, the two teams exchanged points all that way up to the technical time-out where the Gryphons held a 16-15 lead. As the set neared its end, Ryerson had themselves a match point at 24-23, however, the Gryphons weren't ready to be done yet. A kill from Ziebarth tied the game at 24, before a Ryerson error and a service ace from Chung secured Guelph a 26-24 4th set win.
In the fifth and final set, the No. 2-nationally ranked team was able to create a three point lead early and maintain it throughout the set. Despite one final push from the Gryphons, they came up just a little bit short falling 15-11.
"I was pleased with our effort tonight," said Gryphon's head coach Paul Funk. "There was certainly nothing wrong with our effort tonight, our execution was just inconsistent at times."
The loss will drop the Gryphons to 3-2 on the season as they turn their attention to the Western Mustangs. The Gryphons will have a week off from OUA play before hosting the Mustangs on November 16th at the GGAC.
