Lancers ground Gryphons twice

The No.7 nationally ranked Windsor Lancers men’s volleyball team defeated the Guelph Gryphons twice this weekend 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 25-15, 19-25, 15-11) on Friday night and 3-1 (25-19, 27-25, 13-25, 25-23) Saturday afternoon at the Toldo Lancer Centre. 
 
WEEKEND STATS
Lancer setter Markus Law-Heese had 48 assists on Friday and another 42 assists on Saturday to help set up his team for two successful home outings over their opponents who ended the Lancers 2023-24 campaign last season. 
 
Law-Heese also was a defensive leader on the weekend digging up 11 balls on Friday and another 12 on Saturday. 
 
Anthony Ivanovski was also key performer this weekend for the blue and gold as he recorded 3 service aces from the line including the match winning point on Friday with an uncontested service ace. 
 
He also was a blocking presence up at the net with 5 blocks on Saturday sharing the team lead with Colin Hutchison who also recorded 5 blocks up at the net. 
 
Gustavo Siqueira led the way offensively for the Lancers with his monster 21 kills performance on Friday night’s five-set win and following up with another 14 play-enders on Saturday in the four-set rematch victory. 
 
FRIDAY GAME FLOW
Both teams began the match equally at par with one another proving that the showdown would be no easy feat for either side. 
 
With several points exchanged back and forth early on Guelph found a way to gain control toward the midway mark of the opening set to be able to close out on top 25-21 and take a 1-0 lead in the match. 
 
The second set started off similarly to the first in terms of equal competitiveness displayed from both squads.  Windsor would then find momentum to be able to boost themselves and maintain control of the set. 
 
With the Gryphons nipping at the heels of the Lancers, the blue and gold would remain ahead of the team with red in their uniforms to stalemate the match up at 1-1 with their 25-20 second set win. 
 
The Lancers found themselves in the third set with another tug of war before grasping the set more firmly toward the midway mark of the set.  Windsor would then cruise to a 25-15 third set close out to take a 2-1 advantage in the match.

The Gryphons would take flight in the fourth set looking to stave off defeat and prolong the match to an extra set.  After jumping out to a 3-0 lead Guelph never looked back and continued to extend their lead despite resistance from Windsor. 
 
Guelph’s persistence overcame Windsor’s resistance surge to win the fourth set 25-19 and deadlocked the game at 2-2. 
 
With a fifth and final deciding set triggered, the Lancers found themselves in the same 3-0 deficit to kick off the shortened set that would be a battle to only 15 points. 
 
The Lancers continued to play at the pace of the Gryphons and claw back to an even score of 7-7 before Guelph broke the tie and initiated the side switch at 8 points. 
 
Windsor would reach the double-digit territory first and only continue to build from there, the Lancers would halt Guelph from scoring any more points after reaching 11 and roll down the path to victory with an exciting 15-11 fifth set win capped off by Ivanovski’s spin to win successful uncontested service ace for Windsor to take the first match.
 
SATURDAY GAME FLOW
The blue and gold started off with the edge early on finding a way to continue to apply pressure against the trailing Gryphons to keep up with early lead gaps.
 
Windsor would find themselves tested by Guelph but not long after a 14-14 stalemate did the score seem within range for the Gryphons as the Lancers motivated themselves to earn momentum down the stretch to take the first set 25-19.
 
With the 1-0 lead going into the second set, the Lancers found themselves in the midst of another competitive set with the Gryphons generating steamed momentum of their own looking to equalize the match. 
 
The red, gold, and black found a way to remain in the game with their consistent resilience despite Windsor leading throughout most of the set. 
 
The Gryphons would tie up the game at 24-24 making it a win by two set scenario which ultimately went in favour of the Lancers who took the second set 27-25 and a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Fresh off the two-point set loss the Gryphons pounced on the their host opponents in points and soared over the Lancers in the third set by locking in and regrouping to take charge over the blue and gold with a steady commanding of the scoreboard which allowed them to coast to a 25-13 third set win and extend the match to at least an extra set with Windsor ahead 2-1. 
 
The fourth set appeared to be going in the direction of granting a second straight five-set showdown with Guelph leading throughout the majority of the set that was until the Lancers decided to charge back with a rampage of resurgence to overturn the Guelph lead at 22-21 which prior to the Windsor was trailing as much as a six-point gap.  In the end, the Lancers would earn the second straight win in Windsor with being able to round out the fourth set without needing to play one more with a 25-23 comeback win and 3-1 match victory over the Gryphons to win the weekend series over Guelph.
 
With the pair of wins at home this weekend the Lancers now improve to 4-0 on the young season and remain atop of the current OUA men’s volleyball standings. 
 
UP NEXT
The Lancers will hit the road next weekend when they travel up to Kingston to take on the Queen’s Gaels on Friday November 8th at 8:00pm and Saturday November 9th at 6:00pm.  Both games are expected to be broadcasted for live streaming on OUA.Tv for Lancer volleyball fans to be able to watch and tune into from the Queen’s ARC.