February 21, 2006
RAMS AND GAELS MEET FOR OUA CROWN
TORONTO - The most successful teams are ones that can progress and use setbacks as motivation. As the Ryerson Rams prepare to take on the Queen's Golden Gaels in the best-of-three Ontario University Athletics men's volleyball championship, beginning tonight (Tuesday, February 21) at the Kerr Hall Gym in Toronto, thoughts of the journey are ingrained in the team's collective memory. Two years ago, Ryerson wasn't even a .500 team and in 2005, they were on the cusp of a championship appearance before the York Lions stole it away late in the fifth set of their semi-final. For a school that has never won an OUA banner, the Rams' hunger to win is obvious.
"I've been here for four years," says Ryerson star Ryan Vandenburg, recently named MVP of the OUA for the second straight year. "We've had some good players here. Last year, we knew we had something special but we were maybe too focused on individual things. We're much more in sync this year. We've come together as a family."
The Rams are a pretty good team, as well. Ryerson finished the season on top of the OUA with a sparkling 18-2 record, four points ahead of the second-place Golden Gaels (16-4). The two class teams of the league have a hearty respect for each other's accomplishments and though the Rams came out on top in both meetings during the regular season - 3-0 back on October 28 and 3-2 in a memorable marathon on January 28 - each has the skill to take the OUA banner. The latter meeting featured an incredible 41-39 game in the fourth set, won by Queen's. Ryerson regrouped to take the last set 17-15, ending a classic match.
"The game we had with them was one of the longest ever in the OUA," says third-year Gaels setter Devon Miller. "We collapsed a little. Finishing games has been a problem for us but it was a big lesson."
Miller believes the team has improved daily, right up to its 3-1 semi-final win over the McMaster Marauders last week. The first-team OUA all-star, who shares a house with teammates Andrew Bridgeman, Dan McCrae and Mohamed Slaibeh, says that the confidence in the tight group has grown since the beginning of the season. Coach Brenda Willis has played a key role in that development, which was also aided by a 10-day trip to Europe where the team had a chance to come together.
The Gaels are big on preparation and know exactly what they need to do to win. Miller led the country with 785 assists in the regular season, while outside hitters McCrae and Luke Litchy are the prominent finishers on the team, pacing the Gaels with 209 (sixth in the OUA) and 182 kills (11th in the OUA) respectively. Queen's also boasts the East Libero of the Year in grad student Steve Willis, who led the team with 150 digs.
"We're not nervous," says Miller. "We're of the mindset that if we take care of business on our end of the court, we'll be alright. Defense is obviously going to be big, getting touches, getting digs.
"Ryerson's a great team," he adds. "We'll obviously have to try and contain "˜Snake.'"
Vandenburg poses a host of challenges for Ryerson's opponents. The OUA MVP ranked third in the nation both kills per game (4.39) and service aces (35). But the 6'10" fourth-year veteran from Wooler, ON isn't the only weapon on coach Mirek Porosa's big, skilled team. Matt Fugard, a 6' 8" middle, finished second behind Vandenburg in points with 183, while athletic setter Greg Marszalek ranked third in the country behind Miller and Windsor's Eduardo Parungao with 701 assists. Ryerson's relies on the size and talent to give a boost to all facets of the power game, including serving, hitting and blocking.
While the team may be loaded with talent, Vandenburg calls Porosa the backbone of the Rams. Porosa has been a second father to some of the players and his desire to make his troops better players and individuals was evident when the Rams were forced to face some demons in the semi-finals when they beat York 3-1, the team that eliminated them with an 18-16 win in the fifth set of the 2005 semis.
"Everyone had the jitters going to York," Vandenburg admits. "It's hard to lose any time but when it's that close"¦everyone had that in the back of their minds. That was a really big win for us."
A first-ever OUA championship for the Toronto-based school would be even bigger.
"I honestly couldn't put into words what it would mean," says Vandenburg. "It's been building here every year. We want to do this not only for ourselves but for the school.
"I've been to a few national championships with clubs but I don't think anything can compare to this final."
OUA Men's Volleyball Championships Schedule
Game one - Tuesday, February 21, 2006
#2 Queen's @ #1 Ryerson - 8:00 pm
Game two - Thursday, February 23, 2006
#1 Ryerson @ #2 Queen's - 7:00 pm
Game three - Sunday, February 26, 2006 (if necessary)
#2 Queen's @ #1 Ryerson - 4:00 pm
- O U A -
(Photo: Queen's outside hitter Dan McCrae tallies one of his team-high 209 kills. Photo by Changuk Sohn.)
Enquires can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
"I've been here for four years," says Ryerson star Ryan Vandenburg, recently named MVP of the OUA for the second straight year. "We've had some good players here. Last year, we knew we had something special but we were maybe too focused on individual things. We're much more in sync this year. We've come together as a family."
The Rams are a pretty good team, as well. Ryerson finished the season on top of the OUA with a sparkling 18-2 record, four points ahead of the second-place Golden Gaels (16-4). The two class teams of the league have a hearty respect for each other's accomplishments and though the Rams came out on top in both meetings during the regular season - 3-0 back on October 28 and 3-2 in a memorable marathon on January 28 - each has the skill to take the OUA banner. The latter meeting featured an incredible 41-39 game in the fourth set, won by Queen's. Ryerson regrouped to take the last set 17-15, ending a classic match.
"The game we had with them was one of the longest ever in the OUA," says third-year Gaels setter Devon Miller. "We collapsed a little. Finishing games has been a problem for us but it was a big lesson."
Miller believes the team has improved daily, right up to its 3-1 semi-final win over the McMaster Marauders last week. The first-team OUA all-star, who shares a house with teammates Andrew Bridgeman, Dan McCrae and Mohamed Slaibeh, says that the confidence in the tight group has grown since the beginning of the season. Coach Brenda Willis has played a key role in that development, which was also aided by a 10-day trip to Europe where the team had a chance to come together.
The Gaels are big on preparation and know exactly what they need to do to win. Miller led the country with 785 assists in the regular season, while outside hitters McCrae and Luke Litchy are the prominent finishers on the team, pacing the Gaels with 209 (sixth in the OUA) and 182 kills (11th in the OUA) respectively. Queen's also boasts the East Libero of the Year in grad student Steve Willis, who led the team with 150 digs.
"We're not nervous," says Miller. "We're of the mindset that if we take care of business on our end of the court, we'll be alright. Defense is obviously going to be big, getting touches, getting digs.
"Ryerson's a great team," he adds. "We'll obviously have to try and contain "˜Snake.'"
Vandenburg poses a host of challenges for Ryerson's opponents. The OUA MVP ranked third in the nation both kills per game (4.39) and service aces (35). But the 6'10" fourth-year veteran from Wooler, ON isn't the only weapon on coach Mirek Porosa's big, skilled team. Matt Fugard, a 6' 8" middle, finished second behind Vandenburg in points with 183, while athletic setter Greg Marszalek ranked third in the country behind Miller and Windsor's Eduardo Parungao with 701 assists. Ryerson's relies on the size and talent to give a boost to all facets of the power game, including serving, hitting and blocking.
While the team may be loaded with talent, Vandenburg calls Porosa the backbone of the Rams. Porosa has been a second father to some of the players and his desire to make his troops better players and individuals was evident when the Rams were forced to face some demons in the semi-finals when they beat York 3-1, the team that eliminated them with an 18-16 win in the fifth set of the 2005 semis.
"Everyone had the jitters going to York," Vandenburg admits. "It's hard to lose any time but when it's that close"¦everyone had that in the back of their minds. That was a really big win for us."
A first-ever OUA championship for the Toronto-based school would be even bigger.
"I honestly couldn't put into words what it would mean," says Vandenburg. "It's been building here every year. We want to do this not only for ourselves but for the school.
"I've been to a few national championships with clubs but I don't think anything can compare to this final."
OUA Men's Volleyball Championships Schedule
Game one - Tuesday, February 21, 2006
#2 Queen's @ #1 Ryerson - 8:00 pm
Game two - Thursday, February 23, 2006
#1 Ryerson @ #2 Queen's - 7:00 pm
Game three - Sunday, February 26, 2006 (if necessary)
#2 Queen's @ #1 Ryerson - 4:00 pm
- O U A -
(Photo: Queen's outside hitter Dan McCrae tallies one of his team-high 209 kills. Photo by Changuk Sohn.)
Enquires can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
