Gryphon volleyball men drop preseason opener

EDMONTON – The Guelph Gryphons opened their OUA men’s preseason with a 3-1 loss to the Mount Royal Cougars in the FOG Volleyball Classic at Edmonton’s Saville Community Sports Centre.

The Gryphs won the first set 25-22 before Mount Royal took three in a row, winning 25-22, 25-20 and 25-18.

Guelph had 26 digs, one more than Mount Royal, while the Cougars prevailed in all of the other top stats categories. The Cougars had 51 kills, seven aces, seven blocks and 47 assists while the Gryphs had 43 kills, five aces, two blocks and 40 assists.

Jonathan Pickett had 16 kills, an ace and a block for the Gryphs while Jacob Schweyer had 11 kills, an ace and six digs, Braeden Sears had nine kills and an ace, Thomas Pugsley had 36 assists and an ace and Jack Richards had an ace and three assists. Jacob Bailey had two blocks, Daniel Pickett had eight digs and Joshua Glasbergen had an assist.

Category leaders for Mount Royal were Luis Lange, Tate Howell and Max Haronga with 12 kills apiece, Haronga with three aces, Jace Timmer with five blocks, Samson Olsen with 38 assists and Griffin Butler with seven digs.

The Gryphs are to play the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Ooks and Calgary Dinos Friday at the tournament and the King’s University Eagles and Alberta Golden Bears Saturday.

The Gryphs are to open their regular season with matches against the Waterloo Warriors ate Waterloo Nov. 3 and 4.

• Guelph Sports Journal