This article first appeared on RyersonRams.ca on September 9, 2012
by: Ryan McKenna
TORONTO – The Ryerson Rams men’s volleyball season started with a loss at the hands of the Canada Masters, falling 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-20). The exhibition contest was a part of the grand opening weekend at the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens.
The Rams started the match hot, taking a 11-9 lead, forcing the Canada Masters to take a timeout. Ryerson went on to win the first set, 25-21.
The second set started with the Rams taking another early lead. The Masters stormed back to tie the game at 14, before Ryerson took a 16-15 lead at the technical timeout. The Masters didn’t back down, eventually taking the set 25-21.
The hot play from the Masters continued in the third set, as they cruised to a 25-15 set victory, to put them ahead 2-1.
Although starting out the fourth set fairly even, the Masters pulled ahead to take a 16-10 lead at the technical timeout. After a late charge, the Rams didn’t have enough left in the tank, losing 25-20.
A former member of the Rams volleyball team, Ryan Vandenberg, played with the Masters. Vandenberg finished with a game-high 21 kills. He was impressed with the new facilities.
“This is an absolutely incredible facility, we have stands, the lights are perfect, the roof is high, you couldn’t ask for a better facility. Maybe the best in all of Ontario, one of the best in the CIS for sure,” said Vandenberg.
Roger Marszalek, assistant coach with the Rams, is thrilled to be finally at Coke-Cola Court. “It’s amazing, I still can’t believe we’re here, we have a brand-new, world-class facility, and the energy was comparable to a U.S. college game,” said Marszalek. He lists his experience at the NCAA Final Four men’s volleyball championships in New Orleans, as comparison to the intensity of the new facility.
One positive for the Rams was their blocking, tallying a total of nine team blocks. Off-hand Luka Milosevic led the Rams with five blocked shots and also racked up nine kills. With the regular season still a couple months away, Milosevic feels like the Rams will be ready for when the points count.
“I think we still have enough practices and tournaments to get prepared for the regular season and hopefully make a push for the playoffs,” said Milosevic.
Milosevic is also a fan of the facilities, “I like that the roof is higher, I like the attention that all the athletes are getting. The facilities are great, I have nothing to complain about,” said Milosevic.