GUELPH, Ont. - Knowing they had over a month long break from OUA action coming up after their match, both the Guelph Gryphons and Windsor Lancers emptied the tank Sunday afternoon at the GGAC in a five set thriller. After taking a 2-0 lead the in the match, the Gryphons ultimately held off the Lancers in a fifth set to secure their sixth win of the season going into the December break.
Needing a strong game from everyone on the court to get past a tough Lancers team, the Gryphons received just that. In a match where any given point seemed to have the capability of making or breaking it for either team, Guelph was able to remain buttoned-up in key spots and pull through.
Initially, the Gryphons got off to a tremendous start and they appeared to have themselves in the driver's seat. Jumping out to an 11-3 advantage right out of the gate, the home team was able to give the Gryphon faithful plenty to get loud about, as they built up momentum. However, despite the deficit in front of them Windsor began to make a move of their own. The Lancers were able to get the set back on even ground getting the scored tied 18-18. After a quick breath though, the Gryphons quickly flipped momentum right back around going on a seven point run to secure the opening set 25-18.
Although not to the same extent, the Gryphs were able to again take the early advantage as the second set got underway. Getting their lead as high as five in the early stages, the Gryphons established a little bit of a cushion, but the Lancers managed, for the most part, to keep the lead closer to three. Just like the first set, the two teams played to an 18-18 tie in the second, and from that point on neither team was able to establish much over the other. Windsor was able to take a 23-22 lead over Guelph, however, head coach Cal Wigston then took a time-out and his team responded. The Gryphons won the next three points and ultimately the set 25-23 to go up 2-0 in the match.
Trying to close out the match in three, the Gryphons did not have it easy the rest of the way. Not wanting to go in to their own break with a Sunday afternoon loss, the Lancers began to push back. Flipping the script on the first two sets, this time it was Windsor taking the early lead in set three. With their lead mainly staying close to the three point mark, the visitors were able to get it up to 16-11 at the technical timeout. From there the two teams essentially exchanged points the rest of the way as the Lancers forced a fourth set with a 25-20 win.
After forcing an extra set, the Lancers did their best to repeat the same process. Again, Windsor was able to take control early on in the fourth going up 7-1. Despite Guelph being able to get the advantage down to just two points, the Lancers would take a 16-11 lead in to the technical and just like the previous set they seemed to be able to trade points with the Gryphons down the stretch. Down 24-21, the Gryphons were able to sneak out one more point before the Lancers took the set 25-22 to force the fifth and deciding set.
With each set essentially being decided by the team who jumped out to the early lead, that became even more important with the fifth set only going to 15. Fortunately for the Gryphons they were able to establish a healthy 8-3 lead as the two teams switched sides. Then up 13-7, the Gryphons were able to close out the match shortly after thanks to a kill from Jonathan Pickett that sealed the 15-9 victory.
Statistically, Zarko Ubiparip led the Gryphons with 14 kills, while Pickett tallied 12 of his own. Setting the ball, Gideon Dresser had a team high 32 assists. Ben Kissack led the Gryphons in digs with 20, while Jakson Paterson and Arjun Selhi tied for the team high in blocks with four.
Now 6-3 on the season, the Gryphons head in to the December break. They will not return to action until January 11 when they head to North Bay to take on the Nipissing Lakers.
