October 19, 2005
RYERSON TAKES NCAA CHAMPS TO THE WIRE
The Ryerson Rams proved that top OUA teams can compete with the best anywhere on a weekend trip to Edmonton for the Husky Can-Am Challenge. Ryerson opened the tournament against the 2005 NCAA champions from Pepperdine University in California.
The Rams crushed Pepperdine 25-14 in the first set behind a barrage of serves from Anton Hauser, Oleh Kovalchuk and 2004-05 CIS aces leader Ryan Vandenburg. From there, Pepperdine adjusted and won the second set 21-25 before Ryerson took the third 27-25.
The Rams had a chance to win the match in the fourth set after they dug a ball while leading 25-24. The team couldn’t score however and Pepperdine battled back to win 27-25; then took the fifth set 15-11.
The CIS’s 2004-05 kills leader Ryan Vandenburg had no problems with Pepperdine’s huge block and scored a remarkable 26 kills and six aces.
“I thought they served really well. I thought the heat came off the serves as the match went on. They just made some mistakes in game five,” said Pepperdine coach and American Olympic assistant coach Marv Dunphy. “I don’t know how much we had to do with it.”
The Rams took on the 2004 NCAA champs from Brigham Young next and lost a close 3-1 match (21-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-25). Vandenburg played only one set of the match before returning to Toronto for a family commitment -- still he scored a career single-set high of 11 kills (on 15 attempts with one error).
The following morning, the tired Rams took on a talented squad from UCLA and lost 3-0 (21-25, 19-25, 16-25). The Bruins were the runners-up to Pepperdine last season and played very well.
In their final match, the Rams beat the 2003 NCAA champs from Lewis University by a 3-1 score (25-21, 27-25, 24-26, 26-24). On the second day of the tournament, the Rams were also without 2001-02 OUA kills leader Anton Hauser as the high-flying left side traveled to Brazil to compete in an FIVB world beach volleyball tour event.
“We basically just raised the bar for ourselves, and there’s no way back, no way down,” said lauded rookie Oleh Kovalchuk. “So we need to keep the bar that high, and set it even higher and even higher until we’re making history.”
(Source: Ryerson Sports Information)
Photo: Ryan Vandenburg
The Rams crushed Pepperdine 25-14 in the first set behind a barrage of serves from Anton Hauser, Oleh Kovalchuk and 2004-05 CIS aces leader Ryan Vandenburg. From there, Pepperdine adjusted and won the second set 21-25 before Ryerson took the third 27-25.
The Rams had a chance to win the match in the fourth set after they dug a ball while leading 25-24. The team couldn’t score however and Pepperdine battled back to win 27-25; then took the fifth set 15-11.
The CIS’s 2004-05 kills leader Ryan Vandenburg had no problems with Pepperdine’s huge block and scored a remarkable 26 kills and six aces.
“I thought they served really well. I thought the heat came off the serves as the match went on. They just made some mistakes in game five,” said Pepperdine coach and American Olympic assistant coach Marv Dunphy. “I don’t know how much we had to do with it.”
The Rams took on the 2004 NCAA champs from Brigham Young next and lost a close 3-1 match (21-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-25). Vandenburg played only one set of the match before returning to Toronto for a family commitment -- still he scored a career single-set high of 11 kills (on 15 attempts with one error).
The following morning, the tired Rams took on a talented squad from UCLA and lost 3-0 (21-25, 19-25, 16-25). The Bruins were the runners-up to Pepperdine last season and played very well.
In their final match, the Rams beat the 2003 NCAA champs from Lewis University by a 3-1 score (25-21, 27-25, 24-26, 26-24). On the second day of the tournament, the Rams were also without 2001-02 OUA kills leader Anton Hauser as the high-flying left side traveled to Brazil to compete in an FIVB world beach volleyball tour event.
“We basically just raised the bar for ourselves, and there’s no way back, no way down,” said lauded rookie Oleh Kovalchuk. “So we need to keep the bar that high, and set it even higher and even higher until we’re making history.”
(Source: Ryerson Sports Information)
Photo: Ryan Vandenburg
