Ruilin FuWhile conference play doesn’t start until this upcoming weekend, the Bears volleyball team faced a stiff test in the form of the Long Beach State 49ers at the year ending CAN-AM doubleheader challenge.
With no team in Canada having an answer for the Bears’ high-powered offence, the 49ers posed a more significant challenge. Ranked fourth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) in a pre-season coaches poll, the 49ers boast All-American senior middle Taylor Gregory, as well as TJ DeFalco, the youngest player ever named to the United States World League Preliminary Roster.
For Bears associate coach Brock Davidiuk, these games were a good way to prepare the Bears for a tough second half schedule.
“We wanted to give the guys a push into the second semester,” Davidiuk said, “before going into the grueling back half of the season.”
That push was apparent from the outset, and in the Dec. 30th matchup, the 49ers managed to grind out a hard-fought 3-2 win. DeFalco and fellow freshman Kyle Ensing combined for 44 of the 49ers 65 kills. Though it was a back-and-forth battle, the .433 kill percentage of Long Beach State was too much for the Bears.
The Sunday night rematch saw Long Beach effectively shut down both Ryley Barnes and Ryan Nickifor, the Bears top two offensive weapons, despite error-ridden play on both sides of the net. On the back of strong attacking from middles Taylor Arnett and John Goranson, the Bears refocused in the third with LBSU up 2-0. After a marathon third, the Bears fell 33-35 and lost the match 3-0.
Despite the loss, Davidiuk kept a positive outlook on his team’s performance in the second game.
“The guys really turned things around mid set,” Davidiuk said, “which is what we want to see when they’re pushed.”
After winning both the Canada West and CIS Championships in the 2014-15 season, the Golden Bears Volleyball team have consolidated themselves as one of the most consistently competitive teams in Canada West.
A 12-0 first half of the season was capped with a strong showing against the Brandon University Bobcats, with two consecutive straight sets victories. Compounding their undefeated match record is a nearly spotless set record, where the Bears have recorded 36 sets won and only two sets lost.
The Bears lead Canada in several key offensive categories, including team kill percentage, and team assists per set. However, the best illustration of the Bears’ dominance is in earned points per set, where their 19.1 point average is 1.4 points ahead of the next best team.
These excellent team numbers are due in large part to banner seasons for Ryley Barnes and Ryan Nickifor. A fifth-year outside hitter, Barnes leads the CIS in kills per set with 4.45, as well as kill percentage, with .421. Nickifor, a fourth-year right side, also ranks in the CIS Top 10 in the same categories. These efforts are quarterbacked by setter Brett Walsh, setting a torrid pace with 12.55 assists per set.
With a tough January schedule with series’ against several top teams, Davidiuk said he looked at the exhibitions as preparation for tough matches against Trinity Western and UBC. Despite the impact on his team, Davidiuk pointed to the series as a great event for the entire volleyball community.
“I think this is a great event that (head coach) Terry (Danyluk) has put together, and hopefully it continues to grow volleyball in Edmonton.”
