The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's volleyball team opens their 2014-15 regular season campaign this Saturday, October 25 as they travel to Hamilton, Ont., to take on the McMaster Marauders at 7 p.m.

The Blues return home the following Friday, October 31 to host their home opener versus the RMC Paladins at the brand new Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

"Last season we didn't perform as well as we would have liked to," said John Barrett, now in his fourth season as Varsity Blues head coach. "Our goal this season is to make the playoffs. We have a veteran team with some new rookies to help compliment. I think it's a very good crew with a lot of energy and experience and with our new home court, we're looking to have an exciting season."

Fifth-year veteran Michael Denton is back as Toronto's starting setter this season. Denton (Scarborough, Ont.) earned all-star honours at the Queen's Invitational this past weekend and led the team with 348 total assists last year.

Fellow veteran Alex Park also returns and will be Toronto's starting libero in2014-15. Park ended last season in the role, averaging 2.64 digs per set in the Blues final four matches.

Jake Dysselhof, a left side hitter from Mississauga, returns for his fifth and final season in the Blue and White. Dysselhof has led or ranked second on the team in kills for the past four seasons. In 2013-14, the kinesiology major topped Toronto with 159 total kills over 73 sets.

Dysselhof, along with fellow veteran Dave Merritt, will be called upon to lead rookie hitters Thomas Meier and Alex Ferris. Meier, a 6-foot-3 left from Winnipeg, was named the provincial championship MVP in leading his club team to the Manitoba title last season, while Ferris, a 6-foot-4 left from Ottawa, was named the athlete of the year at Beatrice-Desloges High School from 2012-14.

Sophomore Will Colucci is also back as U of T's right side hitter. Colucci (Toronto) led the Blues with 3.34 kills and 3.97 points per set in his rookie season last year.

Fourth-year players Trevor Grant and Nathaniel Virgo look to lead U of T's middle this season.  Grant has racked up 112.5 blocks over the past three seasons, while Virgo looks to have a breakout season after returning from injury.

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