Deep men’s volleyball roster ’embracing the culture’ in 2023-24

The buzz around the men’s volleyball program is palpable, and it’s easy to see why. 
 
The team returns most of its playoff roster from 2022-23, had four members represent Canada’s U21 national team this summer, and saw 11 different players earn extended minutes during last year’s campaign. 
 
Third-year middle Jonah Dueck started a number of games for Canada, representing his country at three different international events, including the U21 Pan Am Cup in Cuba where Canada claimed bronze, and the world championships in Bahrain.
 
Second-year Setter Sammy Ludwig was also part of Canada’s bronze medal roster, while second-year libero Josh Jehle and third-year left side Spencer Grahame rounded out the quartet that earned roster spots during the summer with their country. 
 
Additionally, leading attacker Eric Ogaranko (226 kills last season, .259 hitting efficiency) enters his second year on the left side after making the transition from the right, while fifth-year powerhouse Ben Carleton (113 kills in 11 games) is more confident than ever after an injury setback in 2022-23. 
 
That’s not to mention sophomores Harrison Ens (middle), Jordon Heppner (middle, U SPORTS Rookie of the Year) and Rowan Krahn (left side), who all recorded a minimum of eight kills in at least one game.  
 
Additionally, second-year 6’7″ right side Nicoles Carter tallied a minimum of ten kills in five different games, while fourth-year right side Matthew Campbell had a career high 114 kills. 
 
Impact transfers Alex Witt and Tyson Nachtigall and rookie Kai Boyko have also elevated the team’s overall skill, in practices and in games. 
 
“I think we have a very, very deep team. They have to compete every day at practice if they want to play,” said head coach Arnd ‘Lupo’ Ludwig, who’s guided the Herd to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. 

“The guys know what’s coming, and they know what they have to do. It doesn’t mean they didn’t know that before, but being on the court, it shows you a little bit more about what you have to do.”
 
‘There’s been a whole new intensity’
Manitoba’s quartet of national team players were led by Ludwig and Stephens, who were appointed head, and assistant coach for the U21 roster. 
 
Potential prospects sent in video submissions during March. There were 73 applications, with 27 players moving on for selection camp in Gatineau, Quebec. That group practiced from May 22-26, with 14-16 athletes being picked for training camp on May 27. 
 
While Ludwig and company had a say on the final roster, the eventual decisions were made by National Excellence Program Head Coach and Bisons legend Dan Lewis. 
 
Lewis – a two-time national champ –  was described by former Bisons teammate Jules Martens (third in program history with 3009 kills, old school scoring) as “the first blue chip recruit that I had ever seen.” 
 
He was the Rookie of the Year and Championship MVP when the Herd earned the national title in 1995-96 and also won gold with the ‘zoons in 2000-01. 
 
After finishing up at UM, Lewis played on Canada’s national team, helping the red and white qualify for the Olympics in 2016, their first birth since 1992. 
 
“You had to be your best self every day to make that tryout. I think Dan Lewis is an exceptional coach. He had a different level of expectation that the national team wants,” recalled Grahame. 
 
“You had to be the best teammate, and the most well-rounded player there, see the game holistically and do that every single day. You don’t have to be nice or loving to your teammates all the time. Being a good teammate is sometimes telling them what’s wrong and being real.”
 

Manitoba’s pursuit of greatness has been visible all through training camp. 
 
“This year so far, there’s been a whole new intensity in our practices. That comes from everybody. The four [U21 selections] have led it a little bit, but it comes from everybody collectively,” said Sammy.  
 
“If guys aren’t diving for balls, there are three or four guys yelling at them. Even today, I wasn’t at my best. Spencer told me. I got a little bit better, but it’s just letting each other know. If Spencer tells me I need to be better, I don’t need to be better just for myself, I need to be better so he can be better.”
 
Sammy enters his second season with enhanced confidence, and a much larger role following the graduation of all-time great Jack Mandryk. 
 
Grahame will be one of the team’s catalysts, as will Dueck, but it’s Jehle – a starter last year who had 108 digs – that was highlighted by his teammates as the tone-setter. 
 
“Josh is addicted to passing four balls and three balls on the net. And he hates getting aced,” chuckled Grahame. 
 
“Even in random drills, he will do anything in his power to not get aced and to pass the ball on the net. His level of focus is different than any other passers on our team. When he puts his mind to it, which is any serve or rep, he gets the job done.”
 
‘The Rosenort Boogeyman’
Jehle’s vision and IQ complements game-changers like Dueck, who could be one of the best middles in the country this year. 
 
With Heppner, Ens and Nachtigall factored in, the Bisons are loaded at the position. 
 
The 6’7″ Dueck led Canada West with 1.15 blocks per set last season, along with 1.06 kills per set. He has a standing touch point of 8’10” which is well above the average of 8’5″ (for reference, Graham’s touch point is 8’5″ and he’s only an inch shorter than Dueck). 
 
“His blocking is really what sets him apart,” said Sammy. 
 
“He’s still a great attacker. He’s got a really high contact point. He told me yesterday ‘just set the ball higher and I’ll hit over them. ‘That’s what he said to me. It’s reassuring for me.” 
 
Dueck is as polite as they come. Humble beginnings in Rosenort, Manitoba laid the foundation for the well-spoken playmaker, who is studying engineering on top of his demanding sports schedule (Grahame is also in engineering). 
 
He has a particular interest in aerospace engineering, meaning, quite literally, that the sky is the limit. 
 
And while he’s a constant for the Herd with his composure, the way he plays earned him the nickname ‘the Rosenort Boogeyman,’ by Mandryk last season. 
 
“I’ve been at tournaments with an eight-foot ceiling, and [Dueck] can stand and kick the roof during a dynamic warmup. He’s that big, but he’s that bendy,” chuckled Grahame.
 
“He has such a calming presence. He doesn’t get too high or too low. He works every single day and puts the time in. His balance at the net is exceptional. He’s never on the net, and he just blocks balls that no one else does. His body type and flexibility is uncharted for a middle like that.”
 
A few moments stood out for Dueck during his run with Team Canada. 
 
In Cuba, it was the temperature. Outside, it was 30 degrees, and inside the air conditioning was not turned on. Despite this, Canada battled and won when it counted. 
 
Specifically against Puerto Rico, the Canadians battled back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 (26-28, 27-25, 22-25, 25-19, 19-17) in a match that saw the floor wiped down consistently due to the heat. 
 
Overall, the game spanned 3.5 hours, with Dueck earning the start and providing stability in the middle. He led the team with four kill blocks, while a high block “helped our defence to move better,” noted Lupo to local reporters. 
 
Canada followed up their marathon win with a 3-0 sweep of Haiti (25-19, 25-17, 25-20). 

Sammy  played in sets two and three, leading the team with two kill blocks. He and Dueck also paced the team at the service line, with a combined five aces.
 
“[The Puerto Rico game] was the longest game I’ve ever been a part of. It was also very hot in that gym, so probably the sweatiest I’ve ever been,” reflected Dueck. 
 
“I think a lot of the time added up because of the wiping of the sweat on the floor. It was very sweaty. Jerseys were sticking onto people. You could ring them out and make puddles. If you can overcome that, any gym with AC is a piece of cake.”
 
Skills aside, the team’s culture was strong last year, and it’s even better in ’23. The group gets together off to court to hang out often, and they even bought a fish that they take care of collectively. 
 
“We’re on a really good path. They are embracing the culture,” said Lupo.
 
“On Friday they were all at my place, I made some brisket and sausages. They were watching basketball, and between watching basketball and coming over, they went to Pet Land and bought the fish. It’s now in the team room. Everybody has to watch it for a couple of days. It’s really cool.”
 
Manitoba kicks off their season this weekend on the road against Fraser Valley. Catch the action on Canadawest.tv.