Second-year setter
Grant Reddon posted a career-high 51 assists to power the Brock men’s volleyball team to a 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 25 -19, 25-23) victory in Guelph on Sunday, Nov. 28.
“Overall, we battled hard tonight with some big contributions from our pins. Our middles served exceptionally well, and we were able to get back to a consistent serve-receive, “said head coach Matt Ragogna . “We are happy with where we are so far at the break. Our division is a tight race, so every win counts. Now a time to rest up before we look ahead to a big second half.”
The Badgers carry a 4-2 record into the holiday break and are second in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Division. Brock’s two losses on the season were to the No. 2 team in the country, McMaster.
“It’s exciting to be a part of this team right now because we are a feared team. We’ve got all of this great talent and youth,” said third-year middle Christopher Chapman . “Our program has such a young core with something to root for, for many years to come. It’s amazing.”
Before the pandemic, the Badgers were trending upwards as they reached the OUA playoffs for the first team since the program was reinstated in 2016.
“Even through the pandemic, we’ve been building off of the 2019-20 season. Making the playoffs then was huge for us, “Chapman said. “Since then, we’ve had the mindset of becoming a top seed in the West. Right now, we’re showing it. We’re taking out teams that are our top competitors.”
On Sunday, the Badgers rallied after losing a close first set, 23-25, by posting a sparkling .609 hitting percentage to tie the match with a 25-13 second.
Brock hit for an average of .382 through four sets.
Fourth-year outside hitter Logan House led all players with 23 kills. He also added five digs. Fifth-year outside hitter Dean Globocki hit for .467 with 17 kills on 30 swings and five digs.
Second-year free Ethan Kalef led all players with eight digs. Second-year outside hitter Saulius Lianga filled the scoresheet with seven kills, six digs and two blocks.
First-year middle Jacob Ferland led the defense with three blocks while contributing six kills on offence. Mark Naqvi added three service aces.
“We are a scrappy team. We can serve tough, but we can also pick up a lot of balls that the opposition isn’t expecting to get picked up,” Chapman said. “We can also put away a lot of balls that they’re not expecting to get put down. So the future is bright.”
The Badgers return to play on Jan. 14, 2022, when they host Waterloo.