Talk to any Queen’s men’s volleyball player, and he’s probably doing his best to forget the pre-season. The Gaels dropped all three preseason games in early October against McMaster, Guelph and Laval. But the regular season has seen a reversal in the team’s fortunes.
With straight-set wins on Friday at home against the RMC Paladins and Sunday in Toronto against the York Lions, the Gaels extended a four game winning streak and maintained their perfect regular-season record.
Third-year middle Michael Amoroso said the team’s rocky start helped create depth.
“The pre-season is the time of the year where coaches can afford to play several different rosters,” he said. “If we want to be nationally competitive, we need a full roster that can come on the court and make a difference at any time.”
In Friday’s home game, head coach Brenda Willis had a chance to test several young players.
With a game-high nine kills over RMC, first-year outside hitter Will Sidgewick said he was excited about getting some court time.
“It’s always great to be able to start a match,” he said. I want to be a more consistent starter so on Friday I was just trying to do more of what we do in practice.” Amoroso said the team needed a veteran presence in Toronto.
“Against York, we had our best serving and blocking game of the season by far, which was a goal for us despite it being our first road game of the season,” he said.
Next weekend’s game against the unbeaten McMaster Marauders in Hamilton will determine who sits atop the OUA standings.
Amoroso said there’s a heated rivalry between the two teams. The Gaels have lost the last two OUA championship games to the Marauders.
“Next weekend, we have probably our toughest match of the year … and hopefully we can step up and be successful.”
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