It’s set to be another season of exciting volleyball in the ARC, thanks to the Queens men’s and women’s volleyball teams.
The men’s side is coming off a very successful season, which included an OUA Championship (their first since 2019-20) and a U Sports Championship berth. The team is looking to build off that momentum with a similar group, after only graduating three players from last season.
The Journal caught up with Head Coach Gabriel deGroot, who’s excited about having the same group for the next two seasons. “Knowing we’re not going to graduate anyone this year, we can be very process-driven and think about our goals,” deGroot said in an interview with The Journal. He did acknowledge that the losses from the team last season are going to be significant. However, he voiced his confidence in his third-year players who were “a huge part of our team last year.” He’s hoping this experience will transition to a good start.
When asked about their style of play, deGroot had four words to say: “Hit the ball hard.” That’s a motto that he wants to preach to his team, as he believes that they can be one of the best offensive teams in the OUA. “Games are won in the offensive phase and form the service line,” he said, explaining expectations of creative, offensive-minded strategy to make for an exciting brand of volleyball.
Coach deGroot’s player to watch this season is Ben Carr, ArtSci ’27, who deGroot says “is going to take this league by surprise.” He highlighted Carr’s commitment to the team by staying in Kingston over the past two summers, saying it has helped him “understand how to train at a level that is going to allow him to excel in this league.”
They will play the Volleyball Australia Development Academy on Oct. 10 at the Queen’s-hosted annual Smola Cup, but open up their OUA play at home against the Brock Badgers on Oct. 24. Gaels fans are sure to see more dynamic volleyball play from Carr and the rest of the men’s volleyball team this season.
The Queen’s women’s volleyball team is looking to bounce back after a strong season that ended in heartbreak in the OUA playoffs at the hands of the University of Toronto. Nonetheless, Head Coach Shanice Marcelle is eager to come into her second season at the helm of the program. With a couple of players training with Under-21 national teams, the team is heading into the new season with some international experience.
In an interview with The Journal, Marcelle outlined her expectations for her team this season. “We really want to play at a high level,” she said, explaining that only one team can represent the OUA at U Sports national championships. She’s motivated to “find confidence on the court with a lot of new faces.” There’s going to be some changeover going forward, having graduated four players—three of them playing professionally in Europe.
Coach Marcelle’s players to watch this season includes Abigail McAlpine, ArtSci ’26 who Marcelle says has “done a great job developing over the last year.” She also mentioned her three setters this year is Kennedy Millin, ConEd ’27, Ellaina Coley, ArtSci ’27, and Kensie Lahey, ArtSci ’29, who will be used in “different ways,” meaning that every setter brings something special to the court. This dynamic will be used creatively on offence.
Over the weekend of Oct. 3 to 5, the Gaels set the tone, winning all three matches at their own Queen’s Invitational Tournament. They’re excited to get going in OUA regular season play, with their season starting on Oct. 24 at the ARC against the Brock Badgers.
Both teams are amped to be welcomed back at the ARC, looking to improve each day to the ultimate goal—a championship—at the end of the season.
Tags
abigail mcalpine, ben carr, Gabriel DeGroot, Men's Volleyball, Shanice Marcelle, Women's Volleyball
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.