GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons women’s volleyball team suffered a straight-sets loss to the TMU Bold Friday evening at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre. With the loss the Gryphons, who have already clinched a spot in the 2024 Quigley Cup Playoffs, move to 12-7 on the season while the TMU Bold improve to 14-5 with one game remaining in the 2023-24 regular season.
After a back-and-forth opening set that would end with the visiting team scoring three straight following a 25-24 Gryphon lead, it appeared as though the momentum was clearly in favour of the Bold. That was until a Gryphon scoring run gave the U of G women a 5-point advantage. Despite holding their lead into the late stages of the second set, TMU’s offence would take over and take a 2-0 lead thanks to a 9-1 run. The third, and ultimately final, set of the match saw the Gryphons fall behind early, and with momentum now firmly in possession of the visiting team the Gryphons were unable to take a lead at any point, eventually falling 25-21.
The U of G offensive effort was led by middle blocker Mia Miskovic, a fourth-year student-athlete competing in her second season with the Gryphons. The Ancaster product recorded 14 points thanks to 7 kills, 5 service aces, 2 total blocks with a 3.75 hitting percentage. Miskovic, a creative writing major, is one of the most efficient hitters in the conference this season, averaging .313 through 19 games which ranks 3rd in the OUA. She has also been one the most dangerous athletes serving, also ranked 3rd in the conference with 32 total service aces. Miskovic’s teammate and middle blocker Samantha Ingleton was the only other Gryphon to reach double-digit points Friday night, totaling 10.5 with 8 kills and 2.5 blocks. Tomorrow, Ingleton will take the court at the GGAC for the final time in her career as the lone Gryphon to be honoured as part of the U of G senior night celebration.
The Gryphons will take on the TMU Bold again tomorrow in both teams’ regular season finale. With both the Gryphons and Bold having clinched playoff spots, tomorrows match can only effect the seeding of the OUA playoffs. The Bold will be in search of a home quarterfinal game while the Gryphons are looking to maintain their advantage over the U of T Varsity Blues, who sit just behind the Gryphons in 6th-place in the OUA standings. The first serve at the GGAC is schedule for 6pm with tickets available at gryphons.ca/tickets. Fans unable to attend can catch the action at oua.tv.
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