The Varsity Blues team hosted their home opener at the Goldring Centre against the Nippising Lakers this past Friday, November 21. In their previous match, the Blues were bested by the Waterloo Warriors in a nail-biting match, which ended their five-game win streak and recorded their first loss of the season. For their home opener, the Blues bounced back by defeating the Lakers 3–2 in a five-set thriller, with scores 25–23, 13–25, 25–19, 18–25, 15–13. 

What happened? 

Both teams were evenly matched in the opening set, with neither side able to establish a lead that was more than two points. At 23 points apiece, it was the Blues who were able to take the final two-point lead, which mattered most. Fifth-year outside hitters Hunter Arulpragasam and Maxime Gratton scored points to inch the Blues ahead of the Lakers to take the first set. 

In the following set, the Lakers returned from the intermission with vengeance. With some spectacular defence play and three key blocks, two from Trent O’Brien and one from Marc Marchand, the Lakers built an early 9–0 lead. Despite the Blues regaining some of their rhythm, the Lakers kept the pressure on and closed out the set with a landslide 12-point differential. 

Regrouping in the third set, the Blues found their footing and were able to come out on top with a healthy six-point differential at 25–19, taking the lead with two sets to one. The Lakers retaliated again in the fourth set to beat the Blues back 18–25 and take the game to a deciding fifth set. 

For the fifth set, both teams were deadlocked, trading points back and forth. At the eleventh hour, with the scores tied 13–13, Gratton was once again the hitter who led the Blues to victory with back-to-back points assisted by fourth-year setter Michael Hickey. Gratton was the point leader of the match, scoring 23 points for the Blues; on the opposite side of the net, outside hitter Zander Kasunich put up 18 kills for the Lakers. 

What’s next? 

The following day saw the Blues return to the Goldring Center for a rematch against the Lakers, where they defeated them in straight sets. The Blues finish off 2025 with a regular-season record of 7–1 and are ranked second in the OUA standings out of 13 teams. In the new year, the Men’s volleyball team’s first opponent will be Trent University in Peterborough on January 9 and 10.