The Varsity Blues men’s volleyball team fell 3-2 (25-20, 18-25, 25-16, 27-29, 15-11) in a close match against the Ryerson Rams on Saturday, January 15 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.


Rookie Jake Dysselhof of Mississauga, Ont., led the Blues with 14 kills, while veteran Adam Palmer of Ottawa had 11 in the loss.

Rookie Matthew Vares of Scarborough, Ont., opened up the match in favour of the Blues, and, with the help of teammates Palmer and Jay Tremonti (Dryden, Ont.), Toronto began with an early lead. Tremonti continued to widen the gap 10-6 with a double set of aces after the first technical.

The Blues maintained their advantage, but the Rams picked up their pace and stayed close behind. Toronto native Roman Kabanov was a great competitor for the Rams, repeatedly serving up powerful kills. After the second technical, Kabanov and Chris McLaughlin of Ottawa evened the score 15-15. The game continued back and forth right up until the last final points where Kabanov and Greg McDonald overcame the Blues and took the set 25-20.

The second set continued on at much the same pace, with no clear leader. Palmer and Vares faced off against Kabanov and Brett Penrose of Calgary until mid-game, repeatedly tying the score. It wasn’t until the second technical that the Blues gained some momentum, with kills coming from Vares, JR Hammond (Calgary), and a perfectly timed three-point streak from Palmer. Chris McLaughlin of Ottawa responded and regained some ground for the Rams, but it was too late, the Blues had it 25-18.

McDonald started the third set off for the Rams and they continued with a solid lead. The Blues managed to keep pace through to the middle of the match but faltered and were overcome by the Rams. At the second technical, the Rams were already up 16-9. Unable to make up lost ground, the Blues fell 25-16.

The fourth set was by far the closest and most tense match of the game. Tremonti and Palmer got the Blues going with their powerful kills and sustained their early lead; however, the Rams were extremely eager to keep finish the game and they steadily gained ground. Luka Milosevik (Toronto) was essential in the Rams come back, tying the score up 12-12.

The game repeatedly tied through to the second technical where the Rams finally gave way to the Blues who earned a 21-16 lead. At this point it seemed as though the Blues had clinched it, but in a last minute effort the Rams shot forward managing to push the Blues and the game on tying it up 27-27. The Blues continued to fight back and with a technical error from the Rams and a great kill from Dysselhof, the Blues won the set 29-27 and forced a fifth-and-final set.

The atmosphere was extremely tense coming into the deciding set and the game stayed close. Mid-match the Rams pushed past the Blues, but Palmer and Dysselhof kept the score close. However, in the last few minutes of play the Rams slipped past the Blues defences and won the game 15-11.

The Varsity Blues return to the court tomorrow after noon as they take on the York Lions at 3 p.m.

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