U SPORTS Top 10 (Jan. 9, 2024): Two Gryphon Teams Featured in The First Rankings of 2024

TORONTO, Ont. – On Tuesday, January 9, 2024 the U SPORTS office released its latest national rankings for the 2023-24 season. The Gryphons women’s hockey and men’s volleyball teams were featured in the first edition of the rankings in 2024, with the Gryphons women’s hockey team jumping the Alberta Pandas up to No. 5 and the men’s volleyball team making their return to the Top 10 and No. 10.

Notes:

• Jan. 16, 2024 – Wrestling rankings return
• Jan. 16, 2024 – First rankings for men’s and women’s track & field

Gryphon Teams Ranked Nationally (Jan. 9, 2024)

Gryphons Women’s Hockey – No. 5

In the first Top 10 ranking of the new year the Gryphons women’s hockey team moves up one spot (from No. 6 to No. 5), jumping the Alberta Pandas, after another week featuring back-to-back wins. Friday night in Kingston the Gryphons took down the Queen’s Gaels 6-4 in a win that was highlighted by a first career hattrick from forward Maya Graham. 24 hours later it was the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks who fell to the Gryphons 4-2, bringing the U of G win streak to six and improving their record to 14-1-2. The Gryphons now hold a 13-point advantage over the OUA West, with the closest team being the Waterloo Warriors who trail with a 10-5-1 record. This week, the Gryphons will host the Brock Badgers (6-7-3) Thursday night (Jan. 11) before welcoming the TMU Bold (3-12-2) to town Saturday afternoon (Jan. 13). 

Gryphons Men’s Volleyball – No. 10

For the Gryphons men’s volleyball team, they make their return to the U SPORTS Top 10 rankings after appearing at No. 10 for back-to-back weeks in November. Their return to the No. 10 spot comes after a convincing straight-sets win over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Thursday night (Jan. 4) which was followed by a strong 3-2 victory over the York Lions on the road Saturday (Jan. 6) in Toronto. The Gryphons now hold a 9-2 record and have vaulted into the stop spot in the OUA standings, holding a one-game advantage over the U SPORTS No. 4-ranked McMaster Marauders (8-2) and the Brock Badgers (8-2). Through 11 games this season the Gryphons have failed to lose on the road, with their only two losses coming to McMaster. Their 9 wins also marks the best start to a season in over a decade for the U of G men’s volleyball program. Now the Gryphons have another road test coming up with back-to-back matches against the RMC Paladins this weekend (Jan. 12-13). 
 

U SPORTS Women’s Hockey

U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball

Dropped out: UBC (10)