GUELPH, Ont. – For the first time in 658 days, OUA women's volleyball action finally returned to the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre. Unfortunately for the host Gryphons women's volleyball team, the long-awaited home opener was spoiled by the No. 4-nationally ranked visitors from St. Catharines. On Sunday afternoon (November 28) at the University of Guelph, the Gryphons women's volleyball team suffered a straight-sets loss to the Brock Badgers. Set scores were 25-20, 25-17 & 25-14 in favour of Brock, who improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season. With the loss, the Gryphons fall to 0-4 on the season, with three of their first four losses having come versus the No. 4-ranked Badgers.
 
Over a year-and-a-half had passed since the Gryphons women's volleyball team last competed on their home court in meaningful OUA action as a result of the 2020-21 season being cancelled due to the pandemic. The start of the 2021-22 campaign has certainly tested the Gryphons right out of the gates, with the 2019-20 OUA bronze medalists receiving no help from OUA schedule makers with U of G forced to play three straight road games to start their 2021-22 regular season schedule. After nearly a month on the road, the Gryphons finally had an opportunity to return to their home court, but it was once again a talented Brock Badgers squad who would prove to be too much, with the Badgers winning in straight sets over the Gryphons for a third time this season.
 
Leading the way for the Gryphons on Sunday afternoon was first-year outside hitter Sophie Fernback (Vancouver, BC) who recorded a team-high 7 kills. Middle blocker Cassidy Collins, now in her third year of eligibility and fourth year with the Gryphons women's volleyball program, helped lead the way up front with a team-high 4 blocks, while OUA All-Star Alex Curran added 14 assists. Jaymie Stephenson (5 kills) and Ashley Vang (10 digs) chipped in for the Gryphons, who will now play three of their next four league games on home court following the Christmas break. The Gryphons (0-4) return to action on Sunday, January 16, 2022 when they host the Windsor Lancers. In total, the Gryphons will play 14 games as part of their 2021-22 OUA regular season schedule, with the OUA women's volleyball playoffs set to get underway in early March.