Hey, kids, how good was that?
Yes, he was excited. That’s going to happen when your Canadian university team is in the process of knocking off the two-time defending NCAA champions for the fourth time in a row.
These are great moments. Adrenaline-filled enough that upon watching his guys score a terrific point, even a usually restrained coach will catch himself clapping, yelling and occasionally even fistpumping the glasses right off his own face.
“I forgot I wear them,” quips McMaster volleyball coach Dave Preston.
But his biggest smile from Saturday night’s 29-27, 14-25, 23-25, 25-21 and 15-8 win over Ohio State might’ve come when the first of two weekend matches with the Buckeyes was done.
That’s when the court had been taken over by the families and friends of the players.
And a whole bunch of young kids clearly having a blast bumping and setting balls around.
“That’s what this is about,” Preston says pointing to them. “Trying to filter down to that next generation.” Saturday’s five-set thriller filled with remarkable shots and incredible power delighted the enthusiastic 2,000 or so who filled Burridge Gym. Just as it did last year when the Marauders won.
Folks in the stands were no less thrilled when Mac beat the Buckeyes again on Sunday — 25-14, 25-17 and 25-22 — making it five straight victories over OSU going back three years.
Any time a Canadian school can knock off the top program in the U.S., people north of the border are going to enjoy it.
Mostly because so few seem to believe it’s possible.
When it happens, it’s invigorating and thrilling. Not just for the fans, either. “This is the best game I’ve ever played in my life,” outside hitter Matt Passalent says. “And the most-exciting game.” The Cathedral grad says when he was in Grade 12 and his team was hosting the city championship, the school gym was crazy.
But that was maybe 200 people. This was a whole other level.
Same with Sherwood grad, Josh Ecklund.
He estimates his biggest previous audience was 40.
Getting players like them actual big-moment experience is part of the reason Preston has been organizing this showdown with Ohio State for the past few years, as is the chance to get better by playing great competition.
But at least as significant is the chance to introduce the game to some people who might never otherwise see it and to build interest in a sport that isn’t widely known. Not at an elite level anyway. That’s why Preston was so thrilled to see the kids. Those on the court after and a whole lot more who’d been in the stands during the match.
Who knows, a decade from now one of them might say they fell in love with the game, learned to play, became great and decided to become a Marauder because of this night.
It’s not a crazy thought. Passalent says he had a number of friends there on Saturday who weren’t volleyball guys. Yet after it was over, all were telling him how much they loved watching the sport played at this level. They’ll be back.
Preston says there’s no question events like this are growing the game.
Last year, the gym was filled for one match. On the weekend it was jammed on Saturday and was three-quarters full on Sunday. That’s getting close to doubling attendance in one year.
There’s no doubt this kind of thing is helping feed McMaster’s already dynastic program, too. When he’s sitting in a player’s living room with a potential recruit and his mom and dad, Preston surely must mention playing for Mac means getting the chance to play top NCAA teams in front of a full house.
“If the situation warrants it,” he says.
How often does the situation warrant it? He smiles wryly. “Most of the time it works its way in there.”
But it’s only the start. He loves the big crowds for matches like this or for the national championship that Mac’s hosting in March. His dream, however, is to see the gym filled every time the Marauders take to the court for regular-season games.
“That,” he says, “is when we know we’ve grown.”
905-526-2440 @radleyatthespec Spectator columnist Scott Radley hosts The Scott Radley Show weeknights 7-9 on 900CHML.