MVB RECAP: Gryphons Set Program Record with 15th Win in Regular Season Finale

GUELPH, Ont. – The U SPORTS No. 10-ranked Guelph Gryphons men’s volleyball team earned a 3-1 win over the TMU Bold Saturday night (Feb. 17), setting a new University of Guelph program record with their 15th regular season win. The previous record of 14 wins, which the 2023-24 edition of the Gryphosn tied Friday night with a 3-0 win over the Bold, had stood since the 2016-17 season. With the win the Gryphons officially finish the regular season schedule with a 15-5 record and capture 4th-place in the OUA standings, while TMU will end their campaign with a 5-15 record. Set scores were 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, and 25-22. 

The two teams opened up Saturday’s match playing a tightly-contested first set before a 6-0 run gave the Gryphons a commanding 21-15 lead that TMU was unable to overcome, with the set ending in a 25-21 U of G win. After the Gryphons dropped another close second set 25-21 they would bounce back thanks to another strong run midway through the frame. Trailing the Bold 17-15, the U of G team took seven of the next eight points, leading to another 25-21 set win. Despite a strong effort from the visiting team to force a fifth set, the Gryphons would earn a 3-1 victory thanks to a 25-22 victory.

The Gryphon offensive effort was led by All-Canadian talent Jonathan Pickett, who was one of three Gryphons to be honoured prior to the games first serve as part of the U of G senior night celebration. Pickett recorded his sixth 20-point performance of the season with 15 kills, three total blocks, and a pair of service aces. The Wiarton, Ontario product officially finishes the 2023-24 campaign as the OUA’s 2nd leading scorer with 312.5 points in 19 appearances. Noah Romero-Marshall, the second graduating senior, also produced a strong performance, totaling 8.5 points with 7 kills and 1.5 blocks. The third and final Gryphon who took the court in their final regular season game, setter Thomas Pugsley, earned 43 kill assists and 2 points while leading the team while 8 digs on the night. 

The next Gryphon men’s volleyball action will take place in a week’s time, when the Gryphons host an OUA quarterfinal match at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Tickets for the Gryphons Forsyth Cup postseason match are available online at gryphons.ca/tickets. Fans unable to attend can catch the playoff action live online at oua.tv.