December 6, 2005
RAMS OFF TO CUBA FOR HOLIDAYS
After posting a near-perfect record against university competition, the Ryerson Rams men’s volleyball team will now compete with one of the best junior teams in the world. Each season during the holiday break, the men travel to Cuba and spend a week training with the Cuban junior national team. The island nation is a volleyball power, especially in the youth ranks.
“They are unbelievable volleyball players,” said Ram Nic Beaver, who went last season. “I was amazed at how good they are with the equipment they have. Some of them were playing barefoot. In Canada, we don’t realize how lucky we are here.”
The Rams have been making the trip for five seasons.
“In one of my sleepless nights I was thinking how I could move our program forward and decided to get in contact with the Cubans,” said Rams head coach Mirek Porosa.
Originally, the Rams played against a provincial team based in Havana. But as Ryerson improved, the Cubans fielded an increasingly strong team. Last season for the first time, Ryerson squared off against Cuba’s junior national team. Many of those players graduated to the national team later in the year – most notably Raidel Poey. The outside hitter led Cuba to a bronze medal in the world league. He was the second-leading scorer in the league -- widely regarded as the best in the world.
“My players were really talking about him afterwards,” said Rams coach Mirek Porosa. “He really stood out with his service. He hit it with laser speed and with the same toss he could hit it off-speed. That’s very difficult to do.”
Ryerson currently leads the country in service aces with 73 and Porosa credits the Cuban experience for helping the Rams to serve better.
“He have gradually improved in that area,” Porosa said. “We have a lot of guys who can really serve. Now, when we’re on, we can beat any team in the country.”
Porosa expects a strong showing from the Cuban side again this year. At the recent Under-21 world championships in India, Cuba placed third.
Besides providing top-quality competition, Porosa said the trip gives the team a chance to bond and see volleyball from another perspective.
“They’re shoes are so old the toes are sticking out, they have holes in the floor and they have filthy conditions. But they have a demeanor of fighters, they want to overcome the difficulties,” he said. “It’s a great lesson for our kids. It shows them that people struggle and can still accomplish their goals and dreams.”
(Source: Adam Button, Ryerson Sports Information)
(Photo: Cuban national team member Osmany Camjeo and Ryerson Rams middle Nic Beaver.)
“They are unbelievable volleyball players,” said Ram Nic Beaver, who went last season. “I was amazed at how good they are with the equipment they have. Some of them were playing barefoot. In Canada, we don’t realize how lucky we are here.”
The Rams have been making the trip for five seasons.
“In one of my sleepless nights I was thinking how I could move our program forward and decided to get in contact with the Cubans,” said Rams head coach Mirek Porosa.
Originally, the Rams played against a provincial team based in Havana. But as Ryerson improved, the Cubans fielded an increasingly strong team. Last season for the first time, Ryerson squared off against Cuba’s junior national team. Many of those players graduated to the national team later in the year – most notably Raidel Poey. The outside hitter led Cuba to a bronze medal in the world league. He was the second-leading scorer in the league -- widely regarded as the best in the world.
“My players were really talking about him afterwards,” said Rams coach Mirek Porosa. “He really stood out with his service. He hit it with laser speed and with the same toss he could hit it off-speed. That’s very difficult to do.”
Ryerson currently leads the country in service aces with 73 and Porosa credits the Cuban experience for helping the Rams to serve better.
“He have gradually improved in that area,” Porosa said. “We have a lot of guys who can really serve. Now, when we’re on, we can beat any team in the country.”
Porosa expects a strong showing from the Cuban side again this year. At the recent Under-21 world championships in India, Cuba placed third.
Besides providing top-quality competition, Porosa said the trip gives the team a chance to bond and see volleyball from another perspective.
“They’re shoes are so old the toes are sticking out, they have holes in the floor and they have filthy conditions. But they have a demeanor of fighters, they want to overcome the difficulties,” he said. “It’s a great lesson for our kids. It shows them that people struggle and can still accomplish their goals and dreams.”
(Source: Adam Button, Ryerson Sports Information)
(Photo: Cuban national team member Osmany Camjeo and Ryerson Rams middle Nic Beaver.)
