2026-27 Season Preview: Gryphons Men’s Volleyball

GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men’s volleyball team returns to the court on Friday night (Oct. 30) when they host the York Lions in a weekend doubleheader to begin the new 2026-27 OUA men’s volleyball season. The OUA regular season consists of 13 programs from across the province, playing 20 matches with the top 8 teams in the OUA ladder qualifying for the postseason. The playoff format remains unchanged as the quarterfinals and semifinals are a single elimination game before it culminates in the playing of the Forsyth Cup to determine an OUA champion on March 12, 2027. The Gryphons will look to make it back to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season following an impressive 14-6 record a season ago.

“Overall, we have young team, but we also have some key guys who will be entering this new season with some solid experience at the OUA level,” says head coach Cal Wigston who enters his 21st season leading the University of Guelph men’s volleyball program. “This is a super tight group that works really hard. We are excited about our new additions to the program and we know that this season is going to be another tight one across the OUA standings.”

Gryphons third-year outside hitter, Quinn Valley (Victoria, BC) is one of three BC players on the team, with Valley having previously played together at club level alongside teammates Sawyer Wishlow and Finn Hughes. Valley last season had 67 kills for the Gryphons. Veteran outside hitter Cohen Martin (Hanover, ON) brings experience to the left side and returns for his senior year with the Gryphons. Martin last year posted a 20 kill performance in a win over Trent. Incoming rookie, Seth Clubine, joins the team as a 6-foot-5 freshman from Uxbridge, Ontario. The zoology major was a U18 national champion in the spring for the Durham Attack where he was teammates alongside fellow rookie Jimmy Lee. Another exciting addition to the Gryphons in 2026-27 is 6-foot-5, Xavier Masztak (Sydney, Australia) who joins the Gryphons as a transfer from Capilano University (North Vancouver, BC). Jasper Thompson and incoming rookie Fisher Cation, both from Ottawa, will provide depth at left side for the team. Joshua Hutt also joins the Gryphons, primarily playing on the left side. His brother, Cameron Hutt, transfers to Guelph from the Calgary Dinos as the 6-foot-7 standout will sit out this season. Nathan Peters returns to the team for his fifth-year as the versatile frontline player will play at right side this season. Peters, the 6-foot-7 human kinetics major, had 58 total kills and 22 total blocks last season. Sawyer Wishlow is ready to make an impact for the Gryphons this season after sitting out last season. Wishlow transferred in from MacEwan University (Edmonton, AB) and was part of the same club team in Victoria alongside Valley and Finn Hughes. Third-year right side hitter Owen Evans (Regina, SK) is set for a bigger role for the 2026-27 season and has also taken on a leadership role with the Gryphons.

The Gryphons at middle blocker will be bolstered by the return of last year’s OUA Third Team All-Star, Finn Hughes. Hughes, a third-year geography major, will look to build upon last season where he finished with 100 kills and had the second-most blocks on the team with 34. The 6-foot-7 middle blocker from Salt Spring Island, BC over the summer played with the Canadian U21 team which competed in Guatemala. Matthew McCarthy returns for his third season for the team after starting last season where he had 77 kills and 28 total blocks. Ian McQueen is set to take another step forward going into his second year at Guelph. The Gryphons will be bolstered by the return of their third-year setter Tian Harcevic. Harcevic, the management economics and finance major, had 639 assists and 12 service aces last season. Incoming rookie, Jimmy Lee (Port Perry, ON) arrives in Guelph for his first season as a Gryphon, with Michael Dobell rounding out the Gryphon depth chart at setter. Kaden Tran is set to assume the role as the team’s libero going into the new season.
 
The Gryphons will begin their new season on Friday night (Oct. 30) with their home opener against the York Lions before closing out their weekend doubleheader against the Lions on Saturday (Oct. 31). Tickets for all of the Gryphons home game are available at gryphons.ca/tickets.