MVB RECAP: Gryphons Fall to Defending National Champions, Trinity Western, in Five Sets in 2024 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Consolation Semifinals

KINGSTON, Ont. – A memorable 2023–24 season for the Guelph Gryphons men’s volleyball team officially ended on Saturday night (March 16) in Kingston at the 2024 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championships. The Gryphons lost in five sets on Saturday night at Queen’s University’s ARC Gymnasium, in a U SPORTS consolation semifinal matchup versus the defending national champions from Langley, B.C., the Trinity Western University Spartans. Set scores were 26-24, 23-25, 25-15, 21-25 & 9-15. 
 
The Gryphons arrived in the consolation side of the bracket following a loss to the No. 1-ranked team in the country on Thursday (March 14) versus the Sherbrooke Vert et Or. For Trinity Western, meanwhile, the reigning national champions were relegated to the consolation side following a five-set loss to the host Queen’s Gaels on Thursday. It is a rare sight to see the perennial powers from Trinity Western relegated to the consolation side, with their loss to Queen’s marking only the third time in 17 appearances the Spartans have lost a quarter-final match at the U SPORTS men’s volleyball championship.
 
The Gryphons got off to a strong start in the opening set against the seven-time national champions from Trinity Western. With a tight opening set tied at 24-24, the Gryphons would take the lead thanks to fourth-year setter, Jack Richards (London, ON), who would come up with a service ace that would just creep over the tape to put the Gryphons in front 25-24. The Gryphons would then seal the opening set thanks to a kill from third-year left side, Cameron Chadwick (Barrie, ON), to put Guelph up 1-0 in the match.
 
The 2nd set was once again tight, with Guelph playing some tremendous defence throughout the set. But Trinity Western would ultimately edge the Gryphons 25-23 to even the match at a set apiece.
 
In the 3rd set, the Gryphons would jump out to a commanding lead early, with an Alexander Odle kill putting Guelph up 13-4. The Gryphons would go on to win the 3rd set comfortably, 25-15, punctuated by an Odle stuff block to give the No. 8-seeded Gryphons a 2-sets-to-1 lead over the No. 4-seeded Trinity Western Spartans.
 
The 4th set was a back-and-forth affair, with Cameron Chadwick and Josh Glasbergen helping lead the way for Guelph. Trinity Western, appearing in the national championship tournament for a seventh consecutive year, would ultimately take the 4th set, 25-21, to even the match at 2-sets-apiece.
 
After playing outstanding volleyball throughout each of the first four sets, the Gryphons would unfortunately run out of steam in the 5th set. The Gryphons fell behind early on in the 5th set and were unable to recover, with Trinity Western winning the 5th set 15-9, to take the match 3-sets-to-2. Cameron Chadwick was named the Gryphons Player of the Game in the loss.

“It’s a real special team,” said Gryphons head coach, Cal Wigston, who prior to nationals was named OUA Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 season. “We have a great group of guys on this team, who play selfless and want to do it for each other. And tonight, our guys didn’t flinch. I am just so proud of the fight that they showed throughout the whole match, going five sets against the defending national champions.”
 
The Trinity Western Spartans will now move on to the consolation final on Sunday (March 17) at 1pm, where they will take on the Laval Rouge et Or, with Laval defeating the McMaster Marauders in the other consolation semifinal.  
 
The gold and bronze medal games are set for the 2024 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championships, with action resuming on Sunday, March 17. 
 
The Alberta Golden Bears and Sherbrooke Vert et Or will meet in the national title game at 7pm on Sunday night. While the U SPORTS bronze medal game features the Queen’s Gaels and UBC Thunderbirds. Action can be seen live online at CBCsports.ca and CBC Gem.