By: Griffin Marsh
The McMaster men’s volleyball team showed grit, resiliency and power while taking both matches of the North American Challenge against two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
World-class volleyball returned to the Burridge Gym last weekend as the men’s volleyball team hosted Ohio State for a two-game series, a preseason tune-up that has become synonymous with sold out crowds, hard hits and tremendous volleyball.
But to understand what this game means for this team, we must reverse the clocks a couple of weeks to this team’s preseason trip to Poland over reading week. While in Poland, the men were exposed to professional-level volleyball and have worked to reflect on that experience leading into this past weekend against Ohio State.
The opportunity to face some of Poland’s best and the NCAA’s best in the lead up to your U Sports regular season is a very unique reality, and something that is not lost on head coach Dave Preston.
“We have to do our student-athlete experience in our own way,” said Preston. “I am really happy with what we are able to provide our students in terms of their volleyball experience,”
An important learning experience in Poland and a firm belief in the McMaster process from the head coach down set the stage for a two-match series against Ohio State this past weekend. The team was able to apply what they had learned in their offseason.
Remembering that the North American Challenge is a preseason friendly for both these teams was easy to forget when entering the packed, noisy gymnasium on both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The first set on Saturday was close and intense, with McMaster squeaking out a 29-27 victory, much to the enjoyment of the roaring crowd.
The rest of Saturday’s match was an up-and-down affair, with the Buckeyes taking the next two sets, including a third set that McMaster controlled throughout but lost after a few unlucky bounces near the end. The resiliency was expressed in the last two sets as McMaster settled in, flipped the momentum and took the first match on a dominant fifth set, 15-8.
Sunday was exciting, as a completely different set of players took the court, featuring some young McMaster players and backups. The outcome was impressive though, as McMaster swept the Buckeyes 3-0.
Throughout this preseason refinement period, and even through the excitement and energy that was associated with a thrilling North American Challenge, coach Preston is firm in his emphasis that the U Sports season is where their focus lies.
"We have to do our student-athlete experience in our own way. I am really happy with what we are able to provide our students in terms of their volleyball experience,"
Dave Preston
Head Coach
Men's Volleyball Team
“The trip to Poland, as good as it was, and the Ohio State matches, as good as they [were], won’t be near as good as what we will experience in league play,” said Preston. “The whole purpose of all of that is to just get us ready for our league play.”
Preparatory or not, Preston will have a lot of positives to take from the North American Challenge, both on an individual and team level. On a team level, the strength and composure to battle back from down a set on Saturday night is definitely a bright spot for coach Preston.
On an individual level, the stars with third-year outside hitter, Matt Passalent, and fifth-year outside hitter, Brandon Koppers. Together they combined for 38 kills and four aces, a dominating performance from both of them on Saturday.
Asked before these matches about the individual talent on this team, coach Preston was excited about what both these players could deliver this year. Passalent is developing into the break-out player, with two seasons under his belt, and Koppers finds himself on the team’s leadership council, already actively working to create a positive and productive culture within the team room, according to coach Preston.
While there has been clear improvement from many individual players on this team, this offseason’s improvement was also supported by a few players’ involvement with varying levels of Canada’s national volleyball team.
Passalent, and second year libero Jordan Piereira spent time with the Junior National Team this summer. Koppers, on the other hand, found a role with the National B Team in a starting role. The energy of the program was also buoyed by recent graduates Jayson McCarthy and Danny Demyanenko finding positions with the National Team in different capacities.
For Preston, this success outside of McMaster just cements the message he is trying to express.
“These are great statements of what we do here, how we are built, and what our day to day delivery model is,” said Preston. “I think in the team room it really helps because the guys know that if we put in what is designed every day, those are some potential outcomes.”
Whatever the message may be, it seems to be lighting up the locker room. Coming off of Poland and a statement performance against Ohio State, energy is high even if this team looks different than last year.
“One of the beauties of collegiate sport is the cyclical nature,” said Preston. “You only got guys for five years, whether you want them for more or not, so it’s turning over. From a team perspective it is really exciting and it is really interesting to see how, even with the core guys being back, what the different chemistry and culture is on each team.”
The culture and chemistry seem to be blending in an exciting way, and this has the men’s volleyball team excited for the year ahead, which leads directly to the U Sports National Championships in our own Burridge Gym in March of next year.
For now, the team looks ahead to the upcoming Ontario University Athletics season. The first game is Oct. 27 at home against the Ryerson Rams, and judging by this past weekend, you will want to be watching.
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By: Camila Stupecka
With the summer break around the corner, students are winding down in hopes of a quick and painless exam season. This is not the case for third-year outside hitter Andrew Richards and the rest of the McMaster men’s volleyball team.
A week after Mac’s bronze medal performance at the U Sports national championships, the team is back at work preparing for a new season, getting ready to come back stronger and more polished after their summer training. With the team losing key players like Danny Demyanenko and Andrew Kocur next year, Richards and his fellow teammates have major leadership roles to fill.
“I like to think I have some leadership value on the team [too],” said Richards. “In terms of sport, we’re pretty good athletes, and [my leadership] would never come from telling people how to play a game but rather as a motivational leader. As I’m getting older, I hope I can be one of those guys that leads the team in the right direction, and I think I can do that.”
His leadership skills were even acknowledged in April of 2016, when he was one of the first students ever to receive the Wilson Leadership Scholar Award, given to those who show potential and drive for change as future leaders.
“The Wilson Award has given me the opportunity to expand my leadership potential,” said Richards. “Outside of sport this year, I was involved with Mac Athletes Care, which allows varsity athletes to connect with youth in the Hamilton Community.”
His contributions to the community don’t stop there. Richards started Suited for Success, an initiative on campus to connect the Hamilton community with access to professional attire. The campaign managed to deliver over 200 articles of clothing to those in need.
Even though he is known today for his leadership in the community and as a fierce attacker on the volleyball court, Richards started his athletic career in competitive tennis although quickly realized that volleyball was his true passion.
"I realized how important it is to cherish when you can play."
Andrew Richards
Third-year outside hitter
McMaster men's volleyball
“When I played tennis, the schedule was crazy. I spent a lot of time away from home. I wanted to be part of the youth life, [spend time] with my friends,” said Richards. “I got into volleyball because of my older brother, [who plays] for the Guelph Gryphons. When I watched him play, I thought it was the coolest thing to do. And as soon as I started playing, I didn’t regret anything at all. It became my passion.”
Richards soon made his debut in volleyball, dedicating himself to a sport that had captured his attention almost instantaneously. His dedication and skill made it possible for him to gain prominent status as a player and a leader on teams like the junior national volleyball team in Canada. Moving forward, Richards began to establish his volleyball roots at McMaster as part of the men’s volleyball team.
His passion is constantly thriving and growing. Even in the face of injury, when a stress fracture in his left tibia last season left Richards off the court from the start of the regular season until the following year.
“That was probably the hardest thing I went through,” said Richards. “I came here to play volleyball [but] I had to sit and watch because I was on crutches. [I realized] how important it is to cherish when you can play and take recovering and taking care of your body seriously.”
His volleyball career was only strengthened by this temporary delay and today Richards excels not only on the court but as a dedicated and passionate leader throughout the community.
As a player, as a leader and as a part of the McMaster and Hamilton community, Andrew Richards truly is an inspiration.
By: Camila Stupecka
The McMaster men’s volleyball program finds themselves on the U Sports podium for the fifth consecutive season but in a similarly disappointing position. The Marauders fell in the semi-final before winning the bronze medal match to win their fifth medal in as many years.
Following a five-set win against the Université Laval Rouge et Or on March 17, the Marauders qualified for the semi-final game against the top seeded team of the championship, the Trinity Western Spartans – a familiar opponent.
In last year’s national championship, the Marauders fell to the Spartans in four sets in the final, settling for a silver medal. With all of this in tow, the Marauders anticipated a challenging semi-final match.
"Losing is never easy, but to bring home the bronze medal is something that we are very proud of."
Andrew Richards
Fourth-year outside hitter,
McMaster men's volleyball
Though Mac took the first set off the Spartans, Trinity Western steadied to win the next three sets.
“I think it was just a matter of execution, we know we can play at a level that will allows us to defeat anyone and we believe in our selves as a team but in that match we just didn’t execute a high enough level,” said Andrew Richards, a fourth-year outside hitter.
Mac's win over UBC marked the final game in the distinguished careers of Danny Demyanenko, Andrew Kocur, Jayson McCarthy and Seyar Karimi.
With their hopes of a national championship gone, the Mac men did not want to go home empty handed. Following their semi-final loss, the Marauders returned to the court to face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the U Sports third-place match. Determined to finish the season on a winning note, Mac made quick work of the Canada West finalists in straight sets, taking home their third bronze medal in the past five seasons.
“Losing is never easy, but to bring home the bronze medal is something we are very proud of,” said Richards.
Mac’s win over UBC marked the final game in the distinguished careers of Danny Demyanenko, Andrew Kocur, Jayson McCarthy and Seyar Karimi. The four seniors were paramount to the team’s success, which completed an undefeated season in OUA play, capped off with an OUA championship win in front of a home crowd. Throughout their respective careers at Mac, they were able to carve out a culture of excellence that will be carried on by teammates such as Andrew Richards and Brandon Koppers.
Although the Marauder men fell short of the gold medal, the successes they enjoyed this season should outshine their shortcomings. The Marauder men will continue to be the perennial powerhouse in the Ontario University Athletics conference, and come next season, will hopefully make better on their national championship performance.
By: Camila Stupecka
If the rest of the men’s volleyball final four teams played ice during the Ontario University Athletics final games, then McMaster played fire. They swiftly melted the flame of the Ryerson Rams on March 10 and the Waterloo Warriors on March 11, sweeping both squads and securing their fifth consecutive OUA championship to cap an undefeated regular season.
The conference title win matches the longest streak in OUA history.
Although a close second set against Ryerson could have planted a seed of doubt amongst fans and players, the Marauders succeeded in qualifying for the championship match against Waterloo the next night.
Mac dominated Waterloo, though head coach Dave Preston was not surprised by the result.
“Our preparation for that match was top notch, one of the best we’ve ever had,” said Preston. “Watching them [practice], I even said, ‘Wow. They’re ready.’ ”
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The championship tilt had a bit of intrigue as Waterloo took the Marauders to five sets during the regular season.
“They’re the only team in the OUA to do so,” said fifth-year middle Danny Demyanenko. “They’re a really good team. Definitely the most challenging team to deal with in the [conference].”
Waterloo showed that the five-set loss from earlier was no accident, jumping out to a four-point lead heading into the first technical. After the early stumble, the Maroon and Grey steadied and completed the sweep, 25-21, 25-11, 25-21.
"Big things are about to come. We're hoping for nothing but first."
Andrew Socur
Fifth-year setter
Men's volleyball
“I think we started off a little slowly,” said fifth-year outside hitter Jayson McCarthy. “But once we got into the groove of the game, I think everyone really stepped it up and once we started executing everything we wanted to do it all came together.”
The faces of the team as the final point was added to the score board that night were indescribable. Pride and joy came cheering from the stands as the whole team rushed onto the court, celebrating that final point that won them the gold medal match of the OUA championship game. While conference championships are something to be proud of, the team hopes this isn’t the last banner they’ll claim this year. Mac flew out to Alberta to compete in the U Sports national championship taking place March 17-19 at the University of Alberta.
“We have to put this one [against Waterloo] behind us pretty quick because we have a pretty big task in front of us,” said Preston. “You’re in a national championship now. Everyone in this tournament has good a chance to win it. All the teams are there for a reason. So are we.”
Mac is seeded fifth at the tournament and face an uphill battle to claim the program’s first-ever national championship.
“Big things are about to come. We’re hoping for nothing but first,” said fifth-year setter Andrew Kocur. “Nothing but first.”
By: Camila Stupecka
The McMaster men’s volleyball team played thunder in the first game of the Ontario University Athletics playoffs.
Coming in as the number one seed in the OUA, expectations are high for the Marauders. In quarter-final action against Queen’s on March 4, the Mac men made quick work of their OUA rivals, sweeping the Gaels in three sets to advance to the OUA Final Four. With the win, McMaster is set to host the men’s volleyball OUA Final Four Championship on March 10-11.
“It’s good to get the ball rolling with a 3-0 win,” said third-year Andrew Richards. “For us it was just a matter of being able to show up when we had to and take care of business [since] we played them in our final regular season game a week ago.”
“I think today we probably didn’t play as well as we could have,” said head coach Dave Preston. “But I thought we played as well as we needed to and sometimes in the playoffs that just happens.”
Even though Mac did not play to their usual standards, the team were able to show off their depth and consistency, especially as the game progressed and the Marauders drew closer to victory.
“This moment is pretty big and we had a lot of guys play well,” Preston said. “The regular season went as well as we wanted it to and I think that showed when we brought some guys off the bench and they played well.”
The team played solid defence; they were ready for the attacks of the Gaels, solidifying that crucial McMaster wall at the net. But there are plenty of other areas the team will have to work on ahead of the Final Four.
“For us, we’re so confident in our defence we put ourselves in a position with our serving to defend,” Richards said. “But we will continue working on our serving. It’s an important piece of our game plan.”
As the OUA playoffs come to a close, the Marauders will be working hard to perfect the little details so that each game will be a true expression of their capability. But it’s not all about volleyball skill on the court.
“We work hard enough Monday to Friday. We’re always very confident in our skills,” Richards said. “I think our team can compete, but this year more than others I think we’re gelling really good as a team. It’s important to be able to connect with your guys when it counts.”
The Marauders will welcome the Guelph Grypons, Waterloo Warriors and Ryerson Rams to Burridge Gymnasium for the Final Four weekend. In semi-final action on March 10, Mac will face the 12-6 Rams, who the Marauders managed to sweep in three competitive sets, where each set was decided by six points or less. Ryerson will look to their five-set thriller against the Western Mustangs in the quarter-final as a marker for resilience and toughness for the final games in the OUA season.
Meanwhile, the other semi-final match will see the Gryphons take on the Warriors. Waterloo’s presence in the Final Four has come to a surprise for anyone outside the team itself. Entering the tournament with a 9-8 record, the Warriors managed to upset the York Lions, who won the OUA East division with a 15-3 record, in four sets on the road. With nothing to lose, they will make sure to bring the fight to the 12-5 Gryphons who took care of Nipissing in four sets.
The winners of each semi-final will automatically qualify for a spot at the U Sports Championships on March 17-19, which will take place at the University of Alberta. The winner of the OUA championship match on March 11 will go into the national tournament with a higher ranking and a more favourable path in the playoffs.
Team camaraderie amongst the McMaster men’s team, along with their flourishing volleyball competencies and the support of all those working behind the scene for the team calls for an intense playoff season. The success of the team can only be witnessed throughout the next few games.
Perfection is tough; the longer a team goes without losing, the less victories feel like achievements and the more they feel like expectations.
With a perfect 17-0 Ontario University Athletics regular season, no one knows the weight of expectations better than the McMaster men’s volleyball team. Dropping only five sets over the course of the season, Mac has had another dominant year on the court, earning a no. 2 U Sports national ranking and the only Ontario team to crack the top ten.
So with the OUA playoffs kicking off in March, it is not surprising that the Mac men are being labelled as the early favorites. Not only are they predicted to play for their fifth straight OUA championship, fans are already holding out hope for another shot at U Sports glory.
Coming off a heartbreaking loss in the national championship final at home last season, you might assume the players cannot help but look ahead either, but head coach Dave Preston insists they are taking it one step at a time.
“It doesn’t matter who the opponent is or who we are playing,” said Preston. “We are training at this level to compete every game... and that’s how we [approach it], and that’s how we are going to give ourselves that chance.”
The first step to punching their U Sports ticket is a quarterfinal matchup against Queen’s, which finished with a 10-8 record in conference play, struggling late in the season with losses against York and Nipissing. Their last matchup with McMaster was a late season sweep that saw Mac take all three sets by a margin of nine points or more. Fifth-year middle Jayson McCarthy lead the way with 12 of Mac’s 38 kills on the night, and will look to kick off his OUA run in a similar fashion.
Regardless of who advances on the other side of the bracket, Mac will have a target on their back as the only undefeated team in the league.
Heavily favored heading into the match, the Mac men may also look to fine tune their offense before potentially matching up with other OUA contenders such as Guelph or York. From a fan’s perspective, early playoff games may seem like trivial preparation for tougher competition, although coach Preston insists it is not their opponent that determines team performance.
“One of the things we really try to focus on is making sure our Mondays to Thursdays are extremely productive,” said Preston. “I don’t know how other teams in other conferences, play and train and perform… what I do know is that we focus on our training during the week. We work really hard…and where we make our gains is in our own practice gyms. That is how we have to focus on it.”
Regardless of who advances on the other side of the bracket, Mac will have a target on their back as the only undefeated team in the league. Their opponents have the benefit of playing with nothing to lose, and staying focused to avoid any upsets will be critical.
Maintaining perfection is tough, there is no question about it. It challenges the player’s mentality and ability to perform under pressure. But it is also tough to beat, something the Marauders will look to prove in the coming weeks.
You don’t have to know much about volleyball to recognize a big play.
Whether it’s a libero diving from the back row to save a sneaky tip or a serve landing hard in bounds, if the crowd’s reaction doesn’t give it away, then the team certainly will.
But there is one play that is always a little more obvious than the others: the kill.
A play as decisive as its name, a kill occurs when a ball hit by an offensive player is unreturnable by the opposing team, immediately ending the rally and resulting in a point. In volleyball, kills are like exclamation points, not only do they end the rally; they send a message.
And the Mac men are no strangers to a good kill. To accompany their perfect 13-0 record, the Marauders have accumulated 502 kills over the course of the season and sit atop the Ontario University Athletics leaderboard in points per set (16.4).
One perceived flaw in a high-octane offense is that big hits can carry a higher degree of risk. If players want to get the ball to the floor without the opposing teams touching it, they will move it closer to a sideline or put more force on their swing, increasing the chance or an error. But with the highest hitting percentage (0.332) in the league, the Marauders have been able to convert possessions into points without sacrificing rallies to mistakes. Team captain Danny Demyanenko also has the highest hitting percentage of any player in the league at 0.542.
So what gives the Marauders the edge they need?
Second-year middle hitter Craig Ireland says the best hits are actually driven by what goes on before the final contact is ever made.
“To be a good offensive hitting team, it all starts with the basics,” said Ireland. “If your team isn’t able to pass the opponent’s serve so that your setter can consistently run the offence, you aren’t going to get very far.”
Like many other areas of their game, passing has been a strong spot for the Marauders all year. Liberos Pawel Jedrzejewski and Seyar Karimi have lead the way, granting their team the fourth lowest number of reception errors in the league so far.
“Being a very physical team has of course helped us this year, but when it comes down to it our success as a team is due in large part to our passing and setting,” said Ireland. “We have some of the best passers and setters in the country which allows our offence to progress to the level that it’s at.”
To accompany their perfect 13-0 record, the Marauders have accumulated 502 kills over the course of the season and sit atop of the OUA leaderboard in points per set.
Even when an opposing hitter gets the best of them, every touch can be translated into a scoring opportunity, as second-year outside hitter Matthew Passalent describes.
“I think our ability to hit well when the pass isn’t great makes us a good attacking team,” said Passalent. “We practice a lot of high-ball management which allows us to always be a threat offensively even if the pass isn’t there.”
After the pass comes the set, another area Passalent identifies as a key factor to the team’s play.
“A good offensive volleyball team has the ability of setting multiple options consistently,” said Passalent. “When you have four or five reliable attacking options against only three blockers, rather than just one or two main guys to set… you are going to have more success.”
This is where the Marauders depth comes into play. Not only do they have go-to options in Demyanenko and outside hitter Brandon Koppers, who currently sits just behind him in hitting percentage at seventh in the league, the Mac men have enough threats offensively to be a threat from anywhere on the floor.
Having multiple players that can enter a game and convert also means that teams have to adopt a more flexible game-plan on the defensive end, limiting their ability to take control of a game early. In the meantime, Mac is afforded the opportunity to change the look of their offense with every opponent they play, using different players to target weak points in each respective team.
The result is the efficient scoring that Burridge faithful have come to know and love from the Marauders and fans can certainly expect to see more of as the team gears up for playoff season.
By: Camila Stupecka
The McMaster men’s volleyball team has proved to be a strong, skilled team this season, so it is no surprise that head coach Dave Preston is happy with the performance of the team. Currently unbeaten in University Sports competition, the team is heading into the playoffs confident and full of anticipation. Preston sees how the team is doing, but knows they can do more.
“Am I happy? Yes. But not satisfied, yet,” Preston said. “[The goal is] improvement by design. [Right now, we have] really good depth. But now we need consistency, to play the same players over and over, to get a good rhythm.”
Such depth allows more players to gain experience and to strengthen as a unit. In this way each player gets exposure, allowing them to work on their skills on the court. The rotation of the setter position in their matches against Western and Windsor during the Think Pink weekend was a prime example.
“We had three different setters on [that weekend.] Andrew Kocur, Andrew Richards and David Doty.” Preston said. “We could have just kept Kocur on, [but by rotating them], all of them got setting experience [and all of them brought] different styles to the game.”
The focus has been concentrated mostly on the development of unique skills in every player. Coming toward the end of the season, Preston is ready to create some rhythm, allowing for a more consistent representation of smooth plays to emerge on the court.
But what is the ultimate strategy when playing such a wide range of seasoned opponents? Being good at everything.
“Each opponent has presented a unique challenge.” Preston said. “[It’s] all about match-up.”
The Mac men are a balanced and flexible team, which has been represented in their season-long successes in Ontario University Athletics competition this season.
Fourth-year Brandon Koppers, fifth-year Danny Demyanenko and third-year Andrew Richards have stepped up as leaders of the team, working hard and making sure the team improves not only its volleyball skills but their fellowship skills as well.
“[The leaders] let people lead and fall back when necessary,” said Preston. “Developing fellowship skills is just as important as developing leadership skills.”
Individually, they are also major assets to the team’s overall dynamic; Koppers excels in passing and hitting offside, Demyanenko in his defensive blocks and Richards is an asset at almost every position. Richards’ versatility is what truly impresses Preston.
“He has played almost every position.” said Preston. “Whether it’s by necessity or by choice.”
Another one of the team’s key moves is to surprise the opposition. The men’s team has been switching two liberos on and off the court, first-year Jordan Pereira and fourth-year Pawel Jedrzejewski. Pereira plays on the defensive and Jedrzejewski plays on reception, and together they not only bring their own unique styles to the court to give further depth to the team, but are also cause for potential confusion for opponents.
“Introducing both is really effective,” said Preston. “Jordan is one of the best diggers in the world and Pawel brings stability [due to his] experience and expertise. It brings a positive rivalry.”
The team is ready to push the limits and finish the season on a winning note. Marauder supporters hope that the team can carry their momentum into postseason play, and make a return trip to the OUA final four.
The Mac Men kicked off the new year by going head to head with some stiff US competition, including defending their win against the reigning NCAA national champions Ohio State. Here’s why you should add “swept the buckeyes” to your list of McMaster bragging rights.
I don’t know how to put this, but they are kind of a big deal.
It seems like Ron Burgundy had it right on Dec. 30, when the ball hit the floor for the final time, handing the Marauders a 32-30 win in the final point of a three set stunner over Ohio State.
It was team captain and fourth-year veteran Brandon Koppers who laid the final hit of the night, just one of his four kills and six aces in the contest. But for Koppers, the chance to play on a greater stage was just as sweet.
“It was amazing,” said Koppers. “Playing in front of a crowd that was that packed… I don’t think we’ve ever sold out our crowd before. I know nationals we came close, but I think that was a first.”
So what was all the fuss about anyways?
Close to 2,000 fans were in attendance, not including the extra spectators without tickets cheering from the mezzanine. Ohio State was making headlines already with a No. 1 national ranking and a 28 game win streak in league play, extending to before their national title. Even the name resonates with fans. Ohio State as a brand is responsible for generating over $160 million in Athletics revenue annually, primarily thanks to tickets sales, licensing and sponsor contributions.
“Ohio State as a name, is popular. People understand it,” said McMaster head coach Dave Preston. “They are familiar with it because of the promotional machine that is the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Even if you weren’t a volleyball fan, you have heard of [them].”
It also just so happened that Ohio State as a school was gearing up for a NCAA playoff football run against Clemson, and Canada’s World Junior Hockey team was set to square off against the USA, fueling the fire of another classic Canada versus USA matchup.
“It ended up being an experience for the student-athletes like we never imagined,” said Preston. “It started off just getting ready, and it just morphed into [a whole different game]. It was really neat. “
Marauder fans were eager to see a repeat of last year’s win on home court, a year after McMaster sent shock waves through the volleyball community by upsetting the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. Both teams are sponsored by Nike, who helped promote the event with an exciting social media campaign.
As for the teams’ history, Dave Preston and Ohio State’s Head Coach Pete Hanson have seen a parallel rise in their programs over the last decade. In 2006, McMaster finished third in the Ontario University Athletics division, while Ohio State finished fourth in their Midwest conference, both far cries from the national title runs made in recent years. Preston and Hanson have also sat at the helm of Canada and USA’s junior national teams respectively, extending their their relationship through scrimmages to prepare for international competitive runs.
But why set up such a colligate match between the two teams in the first place? While it was a great experience for the fans, the players are only halfway through a long and grueling season that will see them play two more months of league games before playoffs. They were also coming off a month long hiatus from exams, and will not see any teams from the states for the remainder of the year.
The answer boils down to preparation.
“The entire purpose of those matches is to get everyone ready for the second half of the season… with less competitive cost,” said Preston. “When you play someone in your league and you are trying new systems or tactics… they can see what you are doing and they can game-plan, but with NCAA we don’t see them in the playoffs.”
"It ended up being an experience for the student-athletes like we never imagined.... It stated off just getting ready, and it just morphed into [a whole different game]."
Dave Preston
Head coach Men's volleyball
The same logic applies to the road trip the Mac men took shortly after their win at home, when they travelled to Irvine and Malibu, California to square up against the likes of Concordia and Pepperdine University. Although the Marauders would do battle with 16-hour travel days and ultimately come up short against the west coast competition, the chance to replicate the competitive environment of big games will mean less adjustment come playoff time.
“Personally, I know it helps me prepare for the big games later in the season,” said Koppers. “The amazing thing about those kind of games is that win or lose the cost is pretty much zero. So we are able to play at the intensity, try new things, and try and play at the emotional level.”
“We also [have players] that have been through it… we know how to treat it, how to stay level headed and not get too excited. I think its great for some of the younger guys that maybe haven’t had that feeling yet,” he added.
In a sport where practice dictates performance, McMaster’s preparation on a grand stage should send a clear message to the rest of the OUA. If they are a big deal now, they can only get bigger.
A dominant McMaster men’s volleyball team enters the winter break flying high.
As the fall portion of this gruelling season comes to a close, 2016/2017 seems to be no different. At the time of writing, McMaster is ranked no. 2 in the University Sports Top 10, entering the break with a perfect record of 6-0.
For the men’s volleyball team, a group that have won the Ontario University Athletics championships four years running and were last year’s Canadian Interuniversity Sports Championship runners-up, success has come to be expected.
What is fascinating about this team is that while their record may look to be a perfect beginning to this season, there is a drive to do more, to be better and to never settle.
“We know we are capable of more and the trap is settling, and I don’t want to settle for being good enough. If you are capable of more, then reset your standards and let’s do more,” said head coach Dave Preston.
This is a statement that has been reaffirmed on a regular basis by Preston, one of a team that is building something, but by no means done.
McMaster enters December with three strong victories against a variety of competition. They completed an up and down performance against a new U Sports competitor from Brock University on Nov 18. It finished with a straight sets victory, but each set presented a new array of challenges for McMaster.
Over this past weekend, McMaster knocked off Waterloo in straight sets at home on Nov 25. This was a solid victory, considering McMaster was fighting from behind for most of the first set. They also beat Western in London, 3-1, losing only their first set of the season.
These victories were against two of the most difficult opponents McMaster faced this fall, as Waterloo and Western presenting strong, veteran squads.
We know we are capable of more and the trap is settling, and i don't want to settle for being good enough.
Dave Preston
Head Coach
McMaster men's volleyball
“Waterloo might be one of the most physical teams in the country. They are absolutely massive,” explained Preston. Waterloo boasts a 6’11” outside hitter and 6’10” middle while displaying impressive kills and blocks throughout the match.
Coach Preston had similar thoughts about Western, describing them as polished and a team that always performs well on their home court.
To overcome these two teams, McMaster got huge performances from their veteran hitters, with Brandon Koppers, Danny Demyanenko, and Jayson McCarthy putting up a combined 53 kills over the two games. These three also contributed at the serving line, combining for nine serving aces.
As winter arrives, the focus now shifts towards the exam period, a break, and some non-conference friendly games. McMaster has only played six games so far this season, meaning the winter portion will carry a more intensive schedule. This means the team will rely on their non-conference play against teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association to stay focused and sharp.
Over the break, McMaster will take on NCAA no. 1 ranked Ohio State in the Burridge Gym on Dec. 30, and then travel to California on Jan. 3 for games against Concordia University and Pepperdine University to round out exhibition play.
McMaster has a lot to be proud of as they enter the holiday season, and a significant journey is still ahead of them. But one thing that will remain constant throughout is exciting volleyball as a staple in the Burridge Gym.
This team carries passion, drive, and enjoyment; three attributes that are difficult to create in a team, but offer something fun and exciting when they come together.
