2021-22 Season Preview: Gryphons Women’s Volleyball

GUELPH, Ont. – Coming off of a season that saw them claim their first OUA medal since 2010-11, the Guelph Gryphons are ready to finally return to the court tomorrow night (Nov. 6) to open their 2021-22 season and hopefully make another trip to the OUA Final Four in a few months. The Gryphons will begin their 2021 campaign on the road Saturday night when they visit the Brock Badgers. Following the contest, Guelph will then play its next two matches on the road as well, before returning to the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre for their home opener November 28^th against Brock.

Although a canceled season sat in between the Gryphon’s run to bronze in 2019-20 and where we are now, the time has finally arrived for the Gryphs to try and replicate their most recent performance, if not improve it.

Going back to 2019-20, Guelph put together an incredible run following the Christmas break winning eight of their final ten matches to close out the regular season. With all of that momentum heading into the playoffs, the Gryphons pulled off an incredible upset of the, at the time, No. 4-nationally ranked Ryerson Rams 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 15-11) in the quarterfinals. With their ticket then punched to the OUA Final Four, the Gryphons ultimately fell to the Brock Badgers in the semi-finals before taking down the Western Mustangs 3-1 (25-14, 24-26, 25-22, 25-17) to claim their OUA bronze medal.

Now after waiting an extra year to get to the following season, the Gryphons, with some key returning pieces and some fresh new talent are ready to try and make their mark for 2021-22 under the guidance of three-time OUA Coach of the Year, Paul Funk, who is entering his 17^th season in Guelph.

“Sixteen months ago, our squad ended their season with a bronze medal at the OUA Final Four, so our athletes are incredibly excited and eager to get back to the business of trying to improve on that finish in 2021-22,” Funk said. “The reduced 14 game schedule will create tremendous competition within the OUA West Division with each match having significant impacts on the overall standings. The athletes have had daunting challenges in trying to maintain their skills and physical preparation during the pandemic so the next three to four months will mean a change in focus and efforts which they will enthusiastically attack.”

Starting with the setter position, the Gryphons could not be in better shape. Returning for her final year of eligibility, Three-time OUA 1^st-Team West Division All-Star, Alex Curran will be a staple for the Gryphons taking the second touch. Regarded as one of the top setters in the country, the Aurora, Ontario product will be an important leader for this year’s squad both on and off the court. Ella Carter, a 2^nd-year setter out of Hamilton, who showed promise in the playing time she received in 2019-20, and Alexa Shields, a freshman from Aurora round out the Gryphon’s setters.

On the attack, the Gryphons will have a big pair of shoes to fill in 2021. Spending her final year of eligibility with the Gryphons last season, Jade Ziebarth led the team in kills with 182 and played a major role in Guelph’s success. Along with Ziebarth, reliable left side, Ally Proulx (122 kills last season) also has departed the Gryphons leaving behind a couple of empty spots on that side of the floor. Fortunately for Guelph, they do have some strong options to put on the left side. Returning for her third season, Noa Pijl could be called upon to play a bit more left side as opposed to the right side where she has spent majority of her first two seasons with Guelph. Standing at 6’3, the native of Amsterdam, Netherlands, has shown to be more than capable of not just strong attacks, but strong defensive play at the net as well. Guelph also has an exciting crop of rookie left sides coming into the program this year. One of those rookies is Ally Proulx’s younger sister, Mackenzie. Although it would be a lot to ask to instantly replace Ally’s abilities, perhaps Mackenzie can continue to provide some of that Proulx magic as she develops at the varsity level.

On the right side, the Gryphons will be able to roll out at least one familiar face night in and night out, if not two. 5’9 right side, Jessica Chung is back competing in her 4^th season with the Gryphons. Finishing third on the team in kills last season with 144, the London product has shown time and time again to be a reliable outlet for Curran. Depending on how Paul Funk lines up his team, Pijl could see some rallies at right side as well, which would offer the Gryphons plenty of experience in that position. Both playing their first OUA season in 2021, recruits Samantha Ingleton and Sophie Fernback could be options on the right side as well.

Up the middle has a chance to be one of the Gryphon’s biggest strengths this season. With the return of Lisa Wedel, Cassidy Collins and Sasha Meshcherekova, Guelph enters the season already with three talented and proven options at the middle position. For Wedel, she enters 2021 off of one of her best seasons in 2019 which saw her record 170 kills and 54 blocks. Often working in rotation with one another both Collins and Meshcherekova made the most of their floor time in 2019 as well. Collins, a 6’0 Animal Biology major, recorded 45 kills and 30 blocks, while Meshcherekova (Vancouver, BC) tallied 31 kills and 14 blocks. Guelph also has 2^nd-year middle Ella MacKenzie, who saw limited time in her freshman season, as well to further strengthen that position group.

At libero, the Gryphons will no longer have the services of their 2019-20 2nd-Team OUA West Division All-Star, Tara Tanasijevic, who has finished top-two in the OUA in digs in each of the past two seasons. Although the team will undoubtedly miss the tremendous digging ability of the Toronto native, the Gryphons still look to be secure at the position with experienced veteran Ashley Vang ready to step in to the full-time role. Despite being in a limited role previously, the Kitchener product has seen time on the court in each of the last three seasons giving her plenty of reps heading into 2021.

With the pandemic leading to a shortened season, this year the Gryphons will play 14 regular season matches between November 6^th and February 27^th. The OUA playoffs are scheduled to get underway on March 5^th, with the Quigley Cup set for March 19^th.

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Alex Curran (5th-year eligibility, Setter)
Lisa Wedel (4th-year eligibility, Middle Blocker)
Noa Pijl (3rd-year, Left Side/Right Side)
Jessica Chung (4th-year eligibility, Right Side)
Cassidy Collins (3rd-year eligibility, Middle Blocker)
Sasha Meshcherekova (3rd-year eligibility, Middle Block)

KEY ADDITIONS
Mackenzie Proulx (Left Side, Peterborough, ON)
Sophie Fernback (Right Side/Left Side, Vancouver, BC)
Samantha Ingleton (Left Side, Orillia, ON) *Committed prior to pandemic*

KEY LOSSES
Jade Ziebarth
Ally Proulx
Tara Tanasijevic