GUELPH, Ont. – On Friday night at the Gryphon Athletic Centre the Guelph Gryphon women's volleyball team hosted the Waterloo Warriors. The Gryphons came into Fridays match coming off of back-to-back straight set wins over the Trent Excaliber but were unable to make it three straight wins, falling to the Warriors 3 sets to 2 (25-19, 20-25, 15-25, 25-22, 9-15). After tying the match in the fourth set the Warriors would take control in the second half of the final set, ultimately claiming the win.
 
Friday's match opened up with each team exchanging runs until the Gryphons would pull ahead late in the first set and ultimately taking a 1-0 lead. The second set would see a similar start, with the two teams being evenly matched and neither able to get the edge on the other. The script from the first set would flip in the second, with the visiting Warriors able to build a late lead and tie the game at one set apiece.
 
The third set would see the match stray away from the pattern of the first two, with Waterloo firmly in control and taking a 2-1 lead after a 10-point win. The fourth set would prove to be the Gryphons best set of the match, as they found themselves leading the Warriors for the majority. While the Warriors would battle back in the late stages of the fourth the Gryphons would hold their ground, edging out the visiting team 25-22. The Final set would see the teams trade blows and reach a 9-9 stalemate before the Warriors would close out the match and take the win with a 6-0 run.
 
The Gryphons were led by standout left-side hitter Sophie Fernback who finished the game with a team-high 15 points and 14 kills. Also providing a spark to the Gryphon attack was third year middle blocker Samantha Ingleton who had 14 points and 13 kills. In total, four Gryphons reached the 10-point mark with outside hitters Jaymie Stephenson (10) and Sophie Kalbfleisch (11) joining Ferback and Ingleton. Setting up the hitters were setters Ella Carter and Alexa Shields. Carter, a fourth year Hamilton native, tallied 24 kill assists while adding 5 kills. Switching with Carter throughout the game, Shields provided 17 kill assists on the night.
 
The Gryphons will look to bounce back on Saturday (Nov. 26) when they host the York Lions for a double-header with the men's team. The women are set to get started at 6pm with the men scheduled for 8pm. Tickets for the two matches are available at gryphons.ca with fans unable to attend also able to view the games at www.oua.tv.