Culture reset has Griffins entering new season with wave of optimism for what they can build on the foundation

Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Culture is everything.

It’s the very foundation that everything a successful program achieves is built upon.

So, when the Griffins men’s volleyball team had an opportunity for a culture reset following a 1-19 season in 2024-25, they took it.

Only eight players are back from last season, but the positive environment that’s been created with a healthy mix of returners and new additions is the welcome type of culture shift that figures to set MacEwan up for long-term success.

“Some pieces left, but I really like our group,” said Griffins head coach Brad Poplawski, who is entering his 15^th season at MacEwan. “I think we needed a bit of a culture shift and our leaders this year have led the way with that. 

“I really like the group. I enjoy going to practice with them, they work hard, they do all the right things. They’re not trying to do less. Everyone comes in every day trying to get better, which is so refreshing. Yeah, we lost some pieces, but the pieces we kept and those we brought in are probably the best group I’ve had. It’s been so fun to work with these guys.”

MacEwan will open the season on Friday at Calgary (5 p.m.) and also play the Dinos on Saturday (6 p.m., both Canada West TV).

Where they end up in the standings remains to be seen, but the positive steps they’re taking in the culture department has a wave of optimism coursing through the team unlike any other seasons in recent memory.

“We have not had a good (culture),” said Poplawski. “There are a lot of things with that, and things haven’t gone the way we would have liked. I think this off-season was a big hit-the-reset button. 

“Seth (Birkholz) is our captain with Jarod (Robert) and Brendon (Lord) leading the way with him. I think they really led by example, so guys respect them, first and foremost, because they model the behaviours that we want. It’s really unauthentic if someone tells you do something, and they don’t do it themselves or if they don’t prioritize volleyball. 

“I feel like so far this year it’s been a breath of fresh air and a huge step for us as a program,” he added. “That doesn’t necessarily mean anything on court – we still have to play – but I think the improvement I’ve seen from guys in preseason is due to the environment that the guys have built and their willingness to want to get better.”

Culture is about supporting one another also, and that’s perhaps best seen for the Griffins at the setter position. Fourth-year Kenneth Ang and rookie Lincoln Pinchuk are in a tandem battle for starts, but both are each other’s greatest cheerleader.

Kenneth Ang sets the ball up for Spencer Loucks during a game last season (James Maclennan photo).

“I think as a fourth-year, Kenny’s a great role model for Lincoln,” said Poplawski. “I really like the way the two work together. They both run a good offence, their location is really good. We haven’t always been able to run the speed we want, so having two guys with similar release helps us run the faster offence we want to run with the pipe and middle connection. 

“I think those two are in a good competition all the time. They’re always trying to make each other better and seem to have a very solid relationship.”

At libero, the relationship is similar. Both starter Austin Westermeier-Ly and promising rookie Solomon Flindall are connected and supportive of one another.

“Austin has been in the program for a year and is just way more calm,” said Poplawski. “He had that year coming from college and it’s a big jump. A lot of guys were in that boat last year – Jarod and Kenny, too. Now they all have a year under their belts (in Canada West). Austin just looks a lot more calm and controlled. 

“I like my liberos to be my captain of reception and captain of defence and he’s comfortable in that role now. He can give feedback, he can talk to guys. 

“Solomon, similar to Lincoln as a first year, is just a great athlete and I love working with him,” he added. “I think those two have a good relationship where they’re always sharing information. Again, that goes back to that culture piece where guys are actually supportive of each other.”

That all sets up the offensive pieces up front where big-hitting Robert and Lord lead the way from the outside with rookie 6-foot-5 German Fabian Breitenbach added to a mix that also includes solid depth pieces like Daylan Laszlo and rookie Ethan Pavone.

Jarod Robert is among the players who will be counted upon to provide offence by committee this season (James Maclennan photo).

“We will need to do it a little bit more by committee,” said Poplawski, whose kills leader from last season – Mitchell Croft – left as a transfer to NCAA Hawaii. “There are two ways to look at it. Last year, we were pretty easy to game plan against. Hopefully this year we can be a bit more offensive in the middle, run more pipe and sprinkle in more outside.

“It’s not one guy that needs to get all the volume for us. We’ve got to sprinkle it around a little bit more.”

That also includes feeding middle blocker starters Birkholz and Spencer Loucks, who is in his second year with the Griffins but fourth overall after transferring from SAIT in 2024. Returner Thomas Froberg and newcomers Luigi Ehui and Chanho Park back them up.

“Seth is a fourth year, but he’s basically started since his first year, so he has a ton of on-court experience that’s invaluable,” said Poplawski. “The work he put in in the summer is showing. He’s hitting higher, hitting harder. He’s that steady M1 for us. Spencer is with him in the middle, as well. He came in last year and it’s a big jump coming off knee surgery and from the ACAC. He’s a more mature presence this year, as well, because he’s been in the league for a year. Last year was just a lot of learning.”

After starting the season on the road, the Griffins will return for their home-opening weekend Oct. 24-25 vs. Thompson Rivers University.