Nearly two years since their last OCAA regular season match, Mountaineers men's volleyball will return to action this weekend.
Mohawk will play a nine game season over the course of four weeks beginning with the first three on the road.
It will be the Mountaineers first season under head coach Brad McClure, who's not putting any expectations on his team.
"I feel that setting expectations can sometimes be a trap and quite limiting to our success as a group," McClure said. "For us, the key will be to just play at as high of a level that we can week in and week out – both in practices and games – and really invest in the process."
Prior to the New Year, Mohawk played a 10 game exhibition schedule and came away with six victories versus OCAA opponents.
"The continuous growth we had as both individuals and as a team, match in and match out, as well as our depth impressed me throughout preseason," McClure said. "With the compact regular season schedule, we are going to need guys to step up on a nightly basis and I think we will be able to weather the storm."
Stability with the serve and pass battle will be an area of the game that will dictate the Mountaineers success throughout the season.
"At times during exhibition play we ran really hot and cold from the service line," McClure said. "Finding that consistency with toughness in serves while trusting our defence will become key as we move into playoffs."
Offensively, McClure is confident in the system they have implemented but hopes to see the execution level remain high.
The coach did credit the lengthy preseason schedule and the condensed back-to-backs in helping the team develop a short memory.
"There isn't and won't be time to dwell on negative outcomes," McClure said.
While more than two months have passed since exhibition play concluded, McClure is hopeful the delay won't have a major effect on the Mountaineers.
"A lot of it will just be about getting in quality reps and return to form as quickly as possible with games beginning so quickly," McClure said.
The Mountaineers roster will see the return of brothers Andrew Kong (Burlington, ON) and Michael Kong (Burlington, ON), outside hitter Brayden Griffith (Winnipeg, MB) and middle Anthony Beijes (Hamilton, ON).
Mohawk also added Nathan Snippe (St. Ann's, ON) to the roster. The right side hitter previously played for the Niagara Knights and was named OCAA West Division Second-Team All-Star during the 2015/16 campaign.
However, for McClure it will be a full team effort throughout the season.
"All the guys on our roster need to be prepared to practice and when called upon, perform at a high-level," McClure said. "We're built to be deep and are working on a next man up mentality, so I'm expecting everyone to be a major contributors in the task and role they are asked to do."
The Mountaineers season opening weekend includes matchups on the road versus the Fanshawe Falcons on Feb. 12 and St. Clair Saints on Feb. 13. Both matches will begin at 3 p.m.
Mohawk's home opener in the David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre will take place Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. versus the Humber Hawks.
At this time no spectators will be allowed for all Mountaineers home games. Every game will be streamed on the OCAA Live platform.
